Cagliari through despite defeat
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Article summary
Cagliari Calcio reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat by UC Sampdoria.
Article body
By Paolo Corradini
Inter next
The Sardinian side held a 2-0 advantage from the first leg played in January and will now face FC Internazionale Milano in the last four. Sampdoria midfield player Cristiano Doni broke the deadlock after 18 minutes but striker Mauro Esposito restored parity four minutes later. Vitali Kutuzov put Sampdoria back in front in the 36th minute and Doni doubled the home team's advantage three minutes before the break.
Esposito second
Both teams were reduced to ten men in the 74th minute after a scuffle between Doni and Cagliari midfield player Loris Del Nevo. However, there was still time for Esposito to score his second 12 minutes from time, ensuring a 4-3 aggregate success for the visitors. The first leg of the semi-finals takes place on 20 April, with the return on 11 May.
