Monza turned a difficult week into a defining home night, beating Cagliari 4-0 and giving Ivan Juric’s side fresh substance in the fight to stay in Serie A. The result was built on Noel Tornqvist’s early interventions and then carried by a ruthless second half, with Varela scoring twice and setting up Robinson.
The decision
Juric made four changes after Monza’s 3-1 defeat at Lazio, a match he felt had contained more promise than its scoreline suggested. One alteration was enforced, with Goglichidze replacing the suspended Lucchesi. Folorunsho, disappointing in Rome, dropped out as Foe Ondoa came in alongside Akinsanmiro, while Dany Mota and Robinson supported Varela.
The choices paid off. Monza had already beaten Sassuolo at home this season, and they again found a way to turn their production into a result. Varela, now on six league goals, provided the cutting edge; Tornqvist gave them the security to survive Cagliari’s best spell; and Kouadio, Birindelli and Akinsanmiro supplied the running and recovery work around them.
Cagliari arrived as one of the early surprises of the campaign, with 13 points from six rounds and only three goals conceded, the league’s strongest defensive record. Yet their evening unravelled after an encouraging opening. With Fabio Pisacane suspended following his dispute with Luciano Spalletti, assistant Murelli took charge from the bench and selected Nzola and Mendy together up front for the first time, with Daniel Maldini behind them.
The visitors had the clearer chances before the interval. Mendy released Nzola, only for Tornqvist to smother the attempt, and the Swedish goalkeeper then denied Mendy himself. Those saves proved decisive when Monza took the lead five minutes before the break.
Kouadio won possession from Maldini in a challenge judged fair, passed to Dany Mota and continued his run into the area. Mota found him with the return ball, and Kouadio finished beyond Caprile for his first professional goal. The former Fiorentina player, already involved with Italy under Roberto Mancini, has become an important figure for Juric.
Monza returned from the interval with greater authority. Less than two minutes into the second half, Ondoa supplied Varela after a sustained move and the striker made it 2-0. Cagliari replaced Nzola with Fadera and shifted to a 4-2-3-1, but they never recovered command of the contest.
Tornqvist again stood up to a Cagliari threat when he saved Mina’s header from a corner. Juric then introduced Colpani for Dany Mota, while keeping Robinson on the pitch. That faith was rewarded in the 65th minute: after Adopo lost the ball and Cagliari were exposed, Varela sent Robinson through to beat Caprile for his first goal.
Colpani later struck the post, and the fourth arrived from another quick Monza break. Kouadio’s recovery stopped Fadera’s advance before Robinson hit the woodwork at the other end of the move; Varela followed in to score from close range.
Juric was able to give Cutrone and Folorunsho late minutes in place of Varela and Akinsanmiro, while Forson replaced Robinson. Cagliari made further changes, bringing on Sugawara, Kevin Carlos, Deiola and Liteta, but even Kevin Carlos’ late effort was pushed away by Tornqvist.
Sunday’s picture
The victory moved Monza into 13th place, with Parma and Torino still due to play. It was their second home win of the campaign and a timely answer after the loss in Rome.
For Cagliari, the scale of the defeat sharply changes the mood around a side that had been praised for its defensive stability. Their midfield pairing of Romano and Winks lost influence after the break, while the back line was repeatedly exposed in transition. The two-striker experiment did not deliver the breakthrough Pisacane had sought, despite Nzola and Mendy both testing Tornqvist early on.
Cagliari now have a quick chance to respond when Bologna visit on Saturday. Monza, meanwhile, leave the night with evidence that Juric’s group can turn their work into points when their goalkeeper, midfield and forward line all pull in the same direction.
