Cagliari captain Joao Pedro scored a brace to save a point for the home side in a 2-2 draw with Spezia on Monday night.
The early kick-off on Monday was played in the Sardinian heat and it was the Ligurians who started best.
Emmanuel Gyasi scored an early goal for Spezia, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at half-time in Sardinia.
The battle started in the middle of the park, with both sides fighting for the momentum and the Aquilotti grabbed an early advantage when Gyasi turned and finished outside the area after only seven minutes.
The striker smashed it into the bottom corner behind Alessio Cragno and stunned Cagliari in the opening minuts.
The hosts tried to bounce back immediately but Spezia were the better side in the first quarter of an hour, pushing to immediately make it two.
Diego Godin and Nahitan Nandez were both in the starting line-up for Cagliari, but the Rossoblu struggled to impose their own game.
The home side grew into the game and gave Spezia some difficulties towards the end of the first half but never managed to find an equaliser before the break.
Spezia doubled the lead through Simone Bastoni after 58 minutes and stunned the Rossoblu with a second wake-up call.
Joao Pedro responded immediately, first with a shot on target, and then a great turn and finish to make it 1-2 after 63 minutes.
Gyasi continued to trouble the Rossoblu defence and called for a penalty in the 65th minute, but only seconds later it was awarded at the other end.
Joao Pedro stepped up and equalised for the Casteddu, who continued to push for the winner with 24 minutes to go.
Samuel Mraz came on after 69 minutes for Daniele Verde and thought he had given Spezia the win eight minutes later.
The former Empoli player scored but was flagged offside inside the six-yard box.