SiccSense said:
Cagliari 0-0 Lecce
CAGLIARI, February 12 (Serie A) - Lecce ground out a 0-0 draw at Cagliari to boost their fight against relegation with a hard-earned point, despite the late sending off of Alfonso Camorani.
The bad-tempered clash saw three players booked amid a series of rash challenges, before Alfonso's dismissal 10 minutes from time for a professional foul on David Suazo.
The draw leaves Cagliari hovering dangerously just one point above the relegation zone, while bottom club Lecce are now level on points with 19th-placed Treviso.
A goalless draw looked unlikely as the game burst into life with a frantic opening period, and after two minutes Cagliari defender Alessandro Budel made hash of a clearance in his own area, but Lecce striker Giuseppe Cozzolino squandered the chance to give his team the lead.
Keen to bounce back from his error, Budel put the home side on the attack with a great pass to Mauro Esposito, whose shot from the right side of the area forced an athletic save from Lecce goalkeeper Francesco Benussi.
The visitors immediately counter-attacked and Erminio Rullo's cross found Cozzolino 10 yards from goal but the young forward was denied by a superb reflex save from Antonio Chimenti.
Chimenti was kept busy throughout the first half and Karim Saidi went close with his header from Christian Ledesma's corner but the goalkeeper made a diving save, before denying Mirko Vucinic's right-footed drive on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw Cagliari improve and, within moments of the restart, Mauro Esposito fed Antonio Langella but Lecce goalkeeper Benussi saved his shot with a low dive to his right.
Benussi then pulled off an impressive double save as the shots rained in from Esposito and Langella from close range, before Lecce relieved the pressure and had a chance of their own as Halouias Konan was denied in a one-on-one with Chimenti.
With nine minutes left, Lecce were dealt a crushing blow as Camorani's lunge on Suazo earned him a straight red card and it looked as though the Serie A strugglers would have their hard work undone, a man down the closing stages.
But Lecce proved attack can be the best form of defence and kept their hosts busy by creating chances of their own.
Vucinic robbed Michele Canini of possession in the Cagliari area and fired in a shot from close range, only to see it drift wide, before the final action of the game saw Konan try a chipped shot from the edge of the area.
Chimenti made the save and kept the scoresheet blank and while a point is welcome for both sides they will need to start picking up wins soon.
CAGLIARI, February 12 (Serie A) - Lecce ground out a 0-0 draw at Cagliari to boost their fight against relegation with a hard-earned point, despite the late sending off of Alfonso Camorani.
The bad-tempered clash saw three players booked amid a series of rash challenges, before Alfonso's dismissal 10 minutes from time for a professional foul on David Suazo.
The draw leaves Cagliari hovering dangerously just one point above the relegation zone, while bottom club Lecce are now level on points with 19th-placed Treviso.
A goalless draw looked unlikely as the game burst into life with a frantic opening period, and after two minutes Cagliari defender Alessandro Budel made hash of a clearance in his own area, but Lecce striker Giuseppe Cozzolino squandered the chance to give his team the lead.
Keen to bounce back from his error, Budel put the home side on the attack with a great pass to Mauro Esposito, whose shot from the right side of the area forced an athletic save from Lecce goalkeeper Francesco Benussi.
The visitors immediately counter-attacked and Erminio Rullo's cross found Cozzolino 10 yards from goal but the young forward was denied by a superb reflex save from Antonio Chimenti.
Chimenti was kept busy throughout the first half and Karim Saidi went close with his header from Christian Ledesma's corner but the goalkeeper made a diving save, before denying Mirko Vucinic's right-footed drive on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw Cagliari improve and, within moments of the restart, Mauro Esposito fed Antonio Langella but Lecce goalkeeper Benussi saved his shot with a low dive to his right.
Benussi then pulled off an impressive double save as the shots rained in from Esposito and Langella from close range, before Lecce relieved the pressure and had a chance of their own as Halouias Konan was denied in a one-on-one with Chimenti.
With nine minutes left, Lecce were dealt a crushing blow as Camorani's lunge on Suazo earned him a straight red card and it looked as though the Serie A strugglers would have their hard work undone, a man down the closing stages.
But Lecce proved attack can be the best form of defence and kept their hosts busy by creating chances of their own.
Vucinic robbed Michele Canini of possession in the Cagliari area and fired in a shot from close range, only to see it drift wide, before the final action of the game saw Konan try a chipped shot from the edge of the area.
Chimenti made the save and kept the scoresheet blank and while a point is welcome for both sides they will need to start picking up wins soon.

