Chievo 2 : 0 Cagliari - Chievo on the up

Posted Saturday, December 17, 2011 by PA

Chievo saw off Cagliari 2-0 to move above their opponents into the top half of the Serie A table.

Cyril Thereau and Gennaro Sardo scored the goals for the Flying Donkeys in front of a paltry crowd at the Stadio Bentegodi.

The home side also had two goals ruled out for offside as they deservedly took all three points against a disappointing Cagliari.

Thereau, who had not scored since September, had an early chance to bring an end to that drought, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Michele Agazzi.

Alberto Paloschi put the ball in the net in some style in the ninth minute, but the linesman's flag had long since been raised to deny him.

Cagliari's first chance of the game came in the 17th minute with Victor Ibarbo's header was cleared just in front of the line by Luciano.

Lorenzo Ariaudo then tested Stefano Sorrentino with a header before Sergio Pellissier sent a header wide from 10 yards at the other end.

Chievo started to gain the upper hand and they went in front 10 minutes before the interval with Thereau finally getting the goal he had been waiting three months for.

He showed great strength to hold off the challenge of a Cagliari defender before firing the ball into the centre of the net having made room for the shot.

Cagliari's dangerman Ibarbo skilfully carved out a chance to level in the 38th minute but his shot was blocked by Nicolas Frey.

Thereau was again a threat in the Cagliari penalty area in the 49th minute, but he was unable to get the ball out of his feet and his shot missed the far post.

Chievo had the ball in the back of the net for the third time in the 56th minute, but for the second time it was ruled out for offside with Pellissier this time denied.

There was nothing that could rule out Sardo's goal a minute later, though, as he met Thereau's cross at the far post and squeezed his effort inside Agazzi's post.

Agazzi then denied Pellissier as he searched for his 100th goal for Chievo, while Radja Nainggolan tried to respond for Cagliari, but his shot was saved well by Sorrentino as it came through a crowd of players.

Ariaudo had a header saved on the line by Sorrentino as Cagliari continued to show plenty of spirit, but they could not find a way back into the match.