In a captivating Serie A clash held on October 22, 2023, Cagliari faced off against Genoa, resulting in a dramatic 3-3 draw. Gennaro Borrelli showcased his prowess by scoring twice, helping Cagliari come back from behind.
Genoa initially took the lead with a goal from Vítor Oliveira in the 18th minute, followed by Leo Östigard extending their advantage to 2-0 just before halftime. Cagliari responded with goals from Sebastiano Esposito (42’) and Borrelli (32’), shifting the momentum in the second half.
Aarón Martín’s stunning free-kick goal in the 83rd minute seemed set to seal the deal for Genoa, but Borrelli’s second goal in the 60th minute ensured that Cagliari earned a valuable point.
Borrelli’s outstanding performance included two goals and four shots on target, marking him as the standout player of the match. Meanwhile, Leo Östigard not only scored for Genoa but also made significant defensive contributions, clearing three dangerous balls.
Both teams utilized a tactical 3-5-2 formation for the match. Cagliari’s coach, Fabio Pisacane, positioned Elia Caprile in goal, supported by defenders Gabriele Zappa, Yerry Mina, and Sebastiano Luperto. The midfield was comprised of Mattia Felici, Alessandro Deiola, Matteo Prati, Marco Palestra, and Michael Folorunsho, with Borrelli and Esposito as strikers.
On the other hand, Genoa, under the guidance of Daniele De Rossi, fielded Nicola Leali as the keeper, alongside Alessandro Marcandalli, Leo Östigard, and Johan Vásquez in defense, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Morten Thorsby, Morten Frendrup, and Aarón Martín completing the midfield. The attacking duo consisted of Lorenzo Colombo and Vítor Oliveira.
Referee Federico La Penna oversaw the match, which featured some disciplinary actions, including multiple yellow cards:. Cagliari saw Alessandro Deiola, Matteo Prati, Sebastiano Luperto, and Yerry Mina booked for unsporting behavior, while Genoa’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy received a red card for a second yellow.
As the season progresses, Cagliari sits in 14th place in the league with 11 points, while Genoa currently resides in the 18th spot with 8 points. In their next fixtures, Cagliari will face Juventus away, and Genoa will host Hellas Verona.
Cagliari Substitutions
- 56’ – Mattia Felici replaced by Riyad Idrissi
- 56’ – Matteo Prati replaced by Michel Adopo
- 70’ – Gennaro Borrelli replaced by Leonardo Pavoletti
- 70’ – Sebastiano Esposito replaced by Zito Luvumbo
- 75’ – Alessandro Deiola replaced by Gianluca Gaetano
Yellow Cards for Cagliari:
- 44’ – Alessandro Deiola (Unsporting behavior)
- 1’ – Matteo Prati
- 37’ – Sebastiano Luperto (Unsporting behavior)
- 40’ – Yerry Mina (Unsporting behavior)
Genoa Substitutions
- 66’ – Morten Thorsby replaced by Albert Grönbaek
- 77’ – Alessandro Marcandalli replaced by Valentín Carboni
- 77’ – Vítor Oliveira replaced by Caleb Ekuban
- 87’ – Ruslan Malinovskyi replaced by Patrizio Masini
- 87’ – Lorenzo Colombo replaced by Mikael Ellertsson
Yellow Cards for Genoa:
- 9’ – Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Unsporting behavior)
- 23’ – Albert Grönbaek
Expulsion for Genoa:
- 47’ – Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Red card for second yellow)