Hellas Verona vs Cagliari: Super Eagles hopeful Gift Orban helps his side secure a point

Gift Orban doubled his tally for the season, scoring in the 55th minute to double Hellas Verona's lead. However, they let it slip and only managed to get a point.

Orban has been wasteful in front of goal this season and was yet to find the back of the net since his goal against Juventus on matchday two. However, he found his scoring form today, and his goal ensured that they avoided defeat.

Cagliari had a fast start and nearly scored the opener 13 minutes in when Gianluca Gaetano’s crisp strike from the edge of the box was brilliantly palmed away by Lorenzo Montipò at full stretch.

Despite Cagliari’s bright start, it was the hosts who struck first midway through the half. Roberto Gagliardini met Giovane Nascimento’s inviting free kick with a precise glancing header into the bottom-left corner to give Verona the advantage. 

That goal lifted Paola Zanetti’s side, who almost doubled their lead moments later as Suat Serdar’s drive was tipped onto the crossbar by Elia Caprile before the keeper pulled off an incredible reflex stop to deny Gift Orban’s follow-up header.

Verona continued to dominate after the break. The pressure soon told, though, as Orban finished off a slick counterattack with a composed first-time strike into the far corner to make it 2-0 just five minutes later.

Cagliari had barely threatened, but with 13 minutes left, Riyad Idrissi revived their hopes by squeezing a low shot inside Montipò’s near post. And in stoppage time, Pisacane’s men delivered a late sting, with Mattia Felici pouncing in the second minute of added time to snatch a dramatic equaliser.