Cagliari starting XI (4-2-3-1): Radunovic (GK), Zappa, Dossena, Altare, Obert, Makoumbou, Deiola, Nandez, Mancosu, Luvumbo, Lapadula.
Bench: Goldaniga, Rog, Viola, Aresti, Millico, Prelec, Lella, Barecca, Pavoletti, Azzi, Kourfalidis, Di Pardo.
Goals: Lapadula 14’ 18’
Venezia starting XI (2-5-2): Joronen (GK), Carboni, Svoboda, Hristov, Zampano, Andersen, Tessmann, Ellertsson, Candela, Johnsen, Pohjanpalo.
Bench: Maenpaa, Busio, Novakovich, Bertinato, Modolo, Ciervo, Cheryshev, Neri, Pierini, Sverko, Remy, Milanese.
Both sides had nine shots on goal, with Venezia enjoying 57 per cent of the ball.
Cagliari looked lively early on and made their dominance count.
Lapadula headed in Nahitan Nandez’s cross on 14 minutes to give the hosts the lead.
Four minutes later, the Italian-born Peruvian international was at it again, this time taking advantage of a defensive error.
Andrea Carboni slipped just before attempting a clearance, resulting in the ball trickling out through his legs straight to Lapadula who reacted quickly, drove forward and slotted the ball into the bottom right post.
Seven minutes into the second half saw Venezia get one back.
Mikael Ellertsson drove down the left wing and put the ball on a platter for Nicholas Pierini, whose header was too powerful for Radunovic to keep out.
Venezia had chances to get the equaliser, but it never eventuated.
Claudio Ranieri’s men will now play Parma over two legs.
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