20 shots and one goal: Cagliari edge Lecce 1-0

Cagliari hold on after Maldini strike

Cagliari defeated Lecce 1-0 at Unipol Domus on Monday, with Daniel Maldini’s first-half goal deciding a Serie A match that finished with the home side ahead at the break and at full time. The result gave Cagliari the win, while Lecce left without a point despite seeing more of the ball.

The decisive moment came in the 29th minute. Jacopo Fazzini provided the assist for Maldini, who converted to put Cagliari in front. It was Maldini’s only shot on target, but it was enough to separate the teams. The scorer completed 66 minutes before being replaced by Alieu Fadera, while Fazzini went off in the 61st minute for Mattia Felici after supplying three key passes and the match-winning assist.

Lecce had possession, Cagliari created the danger

Lecce controlled 58% of possession and completed 425 accurate passes compared with Cagliari’s 304. That territorial advantage did not translate into enough clear opportunities, however. Cagliari registered 20 total shots to Lecce’s 10, including nine on target against three, and produced 11 attempts from inside the box compared with Lecce’s four.

The shot count underlined the difference between possession and threat. Lecce circulated the ball more effectively, but Cagliari were more direct and tested Wladimiro Falcone repeatedly. Falcone was the standout performer by match rating, earning an 8.6 after making eight saves in 90 minutes. His contribution kept Lecce within one goal and gave the visitors a chance to pursue an equaliser, although the final score remained unchanged.

Late cards but no dismissal

Kialonda Gaspar was booked for Lecce in the 37th minute. The visitors made an attacking adjustment at half-time, replacing Oumar Ngom with Amar Fatah, and later brought on Jamil Siebert and Youssef Maleh. Cagliari also made a series of changes, with Raphael Kofler and Fadera entering in the 66th minute alongside the earlier introduction of Felici.

Discipline became more prominent in stoppage time. Cagliari’s Alessandro Deiola and Lecce’s Siebert and Falcone all received yellow cards in the 90th minute. Neither side received a red card, and Cagliari preserved the clean-sheet win.

Cagliari take the points

The supplied standings list Cagliari 11th and Lecce 12th, both on three points from two matches, with identical records of one win, one draw and one loss? Actually listed as 1W, 0D, 1L, which totals two matches. Cagliari’s victory strengthens their position in the early regular-season table, while Lecce’s loss leaves them behind the result and unable to add to their points. Both teams had entered with a win and a loss in their most recent form, but Cagliari now have the positive result from this meeting.