Report: Cagliari Calcio 1-1 Leeds United
Hernandez penalty earns draw.
Pre-season
Calgari Calcio 1 (Birsa 14)
Leeds United 1 (Hernandez pen 49)
Leeds: Casilla, Davis, Cooper, White, Berardi, Phillips, Klich (Stevens 64), Forshaw, Costa (Clarke 61), Hernandez, Bamford. Subs not used: Rae, Jenkins, Casey.
Sent off: Phillips
Referee: V. Marini
Venue: Sardegna Arena
Leeds United’s pre-season campaign came to an end, with a 1-1 draw with Serie A side Cagliari Calcio at the Sardegna Arena.
Adam Forshaw went close inside eight minutes, the home side lost possession at the back allowing the midfielder to break in on goal, but Luca Ceppitelli made a great challenge to deny him a block.
Four minutes later Mateusz Klich met a neat ball from Pablo Hernandez, but he could only drag his effort wide.
Cagliari took the lead in the 14th minute, with Valder Birsa latching onto a chest down from Leonardo Pavoletti and finding the back of the net.
Leeds looked to hit back instantly when Leif Davis did well down the left flank, his low cross was met by Bamford, but he couldn’t direct the chance on target with the outside of his boot.
The Whites then had Kiko Casilla to thank, preventing the home side from extending their lead. Marko Rog played Birsa in at goal, but the Sapniard made a brilliant stop.
Charalambos Lykogiannis put a really dangerous ball across the face of the Leeds goal from the left flank, but fortunately for the Whites, no Cagliari player could get on the end of it to convert.
The home side had a penalty appeal turned away in the 36th minute after Rog broke into the box and went down under a challenge from Berardi, before Leeds broke forward and Bamford fired a volley wide following a lovely cross from Hernandez.
Helder Costa provided a threat down the flank and his work led to the ball falling to Klich who hit a first time strike on goal and he was only denied by a superb save from Alessio Cragno.
Half time: Cagliari Calcio 1-0 Leeds United
Leeds United levelled the scores four minutes into the second half. Costa sent Davis down the left flank and his low cross was about to be struck by Klich, but he was bundled over by Filip Bradaric, resulting in a penalty. Hernandez stepped up and converted the spot kick with cool.
Cagliari almost regained the lead soon after, Artur Ionita's cross was met by Christian Oliva at the back post, but Casilla denied him with a decent stop.
Jack Clarke almost had an immediate impact from the bench, he broke into the Cagliari box from the left and saw his low shot deflect wide.
Cagliari had a great chance to go ahead when Marko Pajac’s cross was met by Alberto Cerri who was free in the box, but he put his header wide.
Moments later Leeds had a glorious chance to go in front, substitute Mateusz Bogusz broke down the right, before unselfishly laying the ball off to Clarke, but he couldn’t beat Cragno in the Cagliari goal.
With 12 minutes remaining, Kalvin Phillips tried his luck from range, with his driven effort tipped over by Simone Aresti.
Six minutes later, Phillips was shown a straight red card following a sliding challenge on Simone Pinna, reducing Leeds to 10 men.
Cerri struck a half volley from the edge of the box, forcing Casilla into a good save, before Hernandez tried his luck from 40 yards with a lobbed effort, but Aresti got back to make the stop.
The Whites now head to Bristol City next Sunday, for the opening game of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Full time: Cagliari Calcio 1-1 Leeds United
AS IT HAPPENED:
