Serie B Promotion Play-Off: Dramatic Bari equaliser in Cagliari

Bari are on the verge of promotion to Serie A after a last-gasp equaliser away to Cagliari, having previously wasted numerous chances including a parried penalty.

The format of the play-offs means if the tie is level on aggregate – and the away goals rule does not apply – then rather than extra time, the team that finished higher up the table in the regular season will be promoted.

Bari finished third, right behind automatically promoted Frosinone and Genoa, while Cagliari were five points behind in fifth.

Therefore, Cagliari need to win at the Stadio San Nicola on Sunday or Bari will be in Serie A next season.

The visitors were forced into a change when captain Valerio Di Cesare pulled out in the warm-up, replaced by Zan Zuzek.

It was a very aggressive start from the Sardinians and they found the breakthrough when Marco Mancosu floated a ball to the back post for the classic Gianluca Lapadula header from six yards. The Peru international had been a doubt for this match with an ankle issue.

Bari really should’ve equalised at the 16^th minute when a slip left Zuzek with a free header at the far stick on a corner, that he incredibly turned wide.

Lapadula had the ball in the net moments later, but Zito Luvumbo was offside in the build-up. Alessandro Deiola also threatened, his header thumping the crossbar from a corner, and Mancuso stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Boris Radunovic clumsily went to punch away a corner, catching Walid Cheddira in the process, but VAR was called instead for Nahitan Nandez handball. However, Radunovic made the double save on Cheddira’s spot-kick and the rebound.

Cheddira wasted another sitter on the stroke of half-time, his free header inches wide from a corner, but he did everything right after the restart with a fantastic first touch and shimmy to commit the defender, yet was still denied by a trailing Radunovic foot.

Mancosu went off injured and Radunovic made another remarkable save on Leonardo Benedetti’s back-heel flick from six yards, again on a corner where Cagliari were struggling badly.

Lapadula seemed to be onside when flicking wide off the outside of the boot from six yards, then Radunovic made another desperate save on Damir Ceter.

At the 89^th minute there was a double Bari chance, first Gabriele Zappa cleared off the line from Cheddira, then another Radunovic save on Nicola Bellomo.

In stoppages, Bari received another penalty for Giorgio Altare’s mistimed tackle from behind on Michael Folorunsho. Cheddira wanted to take it again, but instead 38-year-old Mirco Antenucci was introduced purely to convert the spot-kick with his first touch.

It still wasn’t over, Nik Prelec’s header skimming the upright from a corner for Cagliari.

Cagliari 1-1 Bari

Lapadula 9 (C), Antenucci pen 96 (B)

Saved penalty: Cheddira 40 (B)