Cagliari vs. Torino, Final Score 4-3: And we thought this one would be boring

With the win Cagliari move ten points clear of relegation, and go level on points with today's opponents.

The huge scoreline came despite the opening half having very little in the way of goalmouth action. Other than an excellent free-kick delivery from Andrea Cossu, which only just missed the outstretched leg of Luca Rossettini, Cagliari were largely unable to turn their control of the game into a lead.

That was until inside the final ten minutes of the first half, when Angelo Ogbonna bundled over Marco Sau in the area, who stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty. After going behind, Toro were a little better in possession, but were second best at the break.

Giampiero Ventura's half time team talk worked wonders, as the in-form Alessio Cerci equalised immediately after the restart, lashing a low Matteo Darmian 1-2 into the bottom of the net from inside the area.

Minutes later, and the visitors were ahead. Alen Stevanović capitalised on an error from Michael Agazzi, with the keeper overestimating his jumping abilities and committing to a ball which he could only tip into the melee in the box. Stevanović was there to capitalise, and give Torino the lead.

With Cagliari having to chase the game, Torino had more chances to kill the game, and just past the hour Rolando Bianchi fired a shot right at Agazzi from inside the area. Veteran midfielder Daniele Conti made sure he would pay, heading a Cossu cross across the goal and into the net perfectly, inside the final 15 minutes.

Then the chaos began. Gabriele Perico lashed over the bar before -- inside the final five minutes -- substitute Mauricio Pinilla was brought down when through on goal. Ogbonna the culprit again. This time he was sent off, and Pinilla converted the penalty go give his side the lead.

Within a couple of minutes Torino were down to nine. Sub Abou Diop had been on the pitch less than a minute and hadn't even touched the ball before he was deemed to have elbowed an opponent, being sent for an early shower. Not that he needed it.

Despite their numerical disadvantage Torino scored two minutes into stoppage time with the third penalty of the match, rifled in by Rolando Bianchi after he was tugged down in the area. The scoring wasn't done yet. Conti -- who has never scored more than five goals in one season -- tried an audacious effort from outside the box, in the fifth of the five minutes of stoppage time. Deflecting off hapless defender Kamil Glik and beyond Jean-François Gillet.

The crowd went wild, embracing and jumping fellow tifosi. Well, that's probably what would have happened, had there been anyone there. The game was played behind closed doors.

Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Michael Agazzi; Danilo Avelar (Gianluca Perico 57), Davide Astori, Luca Rossettini, Francesco Pisano; Radja Nainggolan, Daniele Conti, Albin Ekdal; Victor Ibarbo (Mauricio Pinilla 65), Andrea Cossu (Matías Cabrera 85); Marco Sau

Torino (4-2-4): Jean-François Gillet; Angelo Ogbonna, Kamil Glik, Matteo Darmian; Giuseppe Vives, Alessandro Gazzi; Alen Stevanović (Valter BIrsa 67), Rolando Bianchi, Paulo Barreto (Abou Diop 87), Alessio Cerci (Dolly Menga 91)

Goals: Sau pen 37 (C) Cerci 47 (T) Stevanović 54 (T) Conti 76 (C) Pinilla pen 87 (C) Bianchi pen 92 (T) Conti 94 (C)

Red cards: Ogbonna 86 (T) Diop 88 (T)