ROME, ITALY — Cagliari pulled off a remarkable smash-and-grab victory at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, defeating 13th-placed Torino 1-2 despite being thoroughly outplayed for large stretches of the contest. The 15th-placed visitors demonstrated ruthless efficiency, converting their limited opportunities while their goalkeeper stood tall against wave after wave of home pressure.
The opening goal arrived against the run of play in the 27th minute when Torino finally found their rhythm. Nikola Vlasic rifled a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner, finishing off a devastating fast break orchestrated by Ché Adams. The Croatian midfielder's clinical finish seemed to reward Torino's early dominance, but the lead would prove frustratingly short-lived.
Just before the interval, Cagliari struck with perfect timing. Matteo Prati prodded home a right-footed effort from very close range in the 45th minute, capitalizing on Luca Mazzitelli's delivery following a corner. The equalizer silenced the home supporters and shifted momentum heading into the break. The decisive blow came in the 66th minute when Semih Kiliçsoy unleashed a left-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom left corner. Alessandro Deiola's assist on the counter-attack exposed Torino's vulnerability in transition, and the Turkish forward made no mistake with his finish.
The tactical battle told a fascinating story of dominance versus efficiency. Torino controlled proceedings through midfield maestro Kristjan Asllani and Gvidas Gineitis, who constantly probed for openings. Marcus Pedersen and Valentino Lazaro provided width, while Giovanni Simeone and Adams combined effectively in attack. However, Cagliari's defensive organization, marshalled by Sebastiano Luperto, frustrated the hosts repeatedly. Alessandro Deiola and Matteo Prati worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking up play and launching dangerous counters.
The statistics painted a stark picture of Torino's frustration. The home side enjoyed 56% possession and peppered Cagliari's goal with 19 shots compared to the visitors' nine attempts. Most tellingly, Torino registered 10 shots on target, yet Elia Caprile stood as an impenetrable barrier, making nine saves to deny the hosts time and again. The numbers told a story of dominance unrewarded, with Cagliari's clinical edge proving the difference.
The turning point arrived during a frantic final half-hour when Torino threw everything forward. Manager substitutions brought on Duván Zapata, Cyril Ngonge, and Niels Nkounkou in desperate search of an equalizer. Caprile saved brilliantly from Zapata's header in the 90th minute, while Ardian Ismajli's header moments earlier also required a stunning stop. Yellow cards for Niels Nkounkou and Zakaria Aboukhlal in stoppage time reflected Torino's growing desperation as Cagliari held firm through six additional minutes.
Looking ahead, Cagliari will host AC Milan on January 2, while Torino host Hellas Verona on January 4.