Serie B 22/23: Cagliari 1-4 Venezia

Ending a frustrating run of four matches without a win, previously goal-shy Venezia exploded for four goals on Saturday afternoon — highlighted by Joel Pohjanpalo and Denis Cheryshev both opening their accounts for the club — in a rampant performance that could change the tenor of the season, as they emphatically defeated Cagliari in Sardinia by the score of 1-4 in Giornata 7 of the 2022/23 Serie B season.

Venezia manager Ivan Javorčić had been gradually shifting from his original 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation — initially making the tactical switch mid-game in Giornata 4 and Giornata 5, before starting with three at the back for the first time in Giornata 6 — and this time it finally clicked into place.

In defense, Marco Modolo has been introduced, adding a steady presence and relieving some pressure from Pietro Ceccaroni and Przemysław Wiśniewski. In midfield, Gianluca Busio was handed more support rather than being exposed as a sole point of distribution, while Michaël Cuisance enjoyed the luxury to get forward into space more freely. In attack, Joel Pohjanpalo had previously been stranded up front and drifting into midfield over the last few matches, but his heat map on Saturday showed him operating right in the opposition’s area for the first time this season, with the benefit of a second striker in Andrija Novakovich to play off of and keep defenders occupied. Each line seemed to be gaining something, with little if anything sacrificed.

Though the floodgates did not open immediately, Venezia showed more fluidity and attacking threat in the first half than they had perhaps all season, and they should have taken the lead early on.

In the 17th minute, Pohjanpalo dribbled into the box and squared a neat little pass into Novakovich who stepped around a defender with only the ‘keeper in front of him but could not finish. In the 25th minute, Novakovich flicked on a header for Pohjanpalo who turned his marker and fired a shot off the post.

It seemed Venezia were on track to break through first, until Cagliari struck from a set piece. In the 39th minute, Marco Mancosu had a free-kick from a tight angle out on Cagliari’s left wing and ripped a shot that surprised and beat ‘keeper Jesse Joronen. Suddenly, despite their encouraging work, Venezia found themselves down once again, but there was still plenty of time remaining and they would find their reward on the other side of half-time.

Just five minutes into the second half, Venezia were back on level terms, as Cuisance served up a perfect outswinging corner and Pohjanpalo rose to head in his first goal for the club. It was simple and effective, and Venezia would not look back.

In the 60th minute, Javorčić brought on Tanner Tessmann for Magnus Kofod Andersen in midfield, and then added an attacking spark with Denis Cheryshev replacing Cuisance to play off of Pohjanpalo and Novakovich. And in a matter of minutes, the La Liga veteran Cheryshev would turn the match.

In the 64th minute, Pohjanpalo led a counterattack, running straight at the defense and playing it off to his right for Novakovich, whose shot to the far post was saved, but Cheryshev was making the run on the weak side and he slotted the rebound into the empty net for his first Venezia goal to put Venezia in the lead.

Just two minutes later, left wing-back Ridgeciano Haps played a cross into the box towards Tessmann, which the Cagliari defense could not deal with cleanly, and the ball broke for Cheryshev again on the left side. Cheryshev hammered a shot on goal that was stopped, but the rebound came right back to him and he would drive in a second attempt.

Venezia were cruising, and they would eventually cap off the performance with a fourth goal.

In the 83rd minute, Cheryshev turned provider with a perfectly weighted ball in behind the defense for Haps, who took a touch and rifled a left-footed shot inside the far post.

After playing tight for weeks, Venezia were free flowing now. From seemingly disjointed with a few square pegs in round holes to humming along like a well-run kitchen nailing dish after dish for a full house. Haps kicked the corner flag in celebration, which felt like a visceral release of weeks of pent up frustration.

Looking to build on their fresh approach and much-needed win, Venezia will return home to host second-place Bari on Saturday 8 October in Giornata 8 of the 2022/23 Serie B season.