Torino 1-0 Pisa Player Ratings: Cesare Casadei 8/10 Rated as an Early Goal Helped Torino Secure a 1-0 Victory

A solitary, decisive header from Cesare Casadei was enough for Torino to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory over a struggling Pisa side. The match, held at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, saw the home team assert dominance from the very beginning. The home side, Torino, looked hungry and determined to put the game to bed early.

The breakthrough came just nine minutes in. A well-delivered corner found Cesare Casadei, who made no mistake with his powerful header. Pisa were rocked back on their heels, struggling to find any sort of rhythm or response. What stood out to us was how Torino controlled the tempo immediately after scoring, never really letting their opponents get a foothold in this Coppa Italia clash.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors in the second half. A moment of madness from Juan Cuadrado saw him receive a straight red card in the 62nd minute, leaving his team to fight with ten men. That incident effectively ended the contest, as Torino comfortably saw out the remainder of the match, securing their progression in the cup. Here are the Torino vs Pisa player ratings.

Torino Player Ratings vs Pisa

Here are the Torino player ratings vs Pisa.

Goalkeeper

Alberto Paleari - 7.5: Had a relatively quiet evening for large spells of the game, which is a testament to his defense. However, when called upon late in the game, he produced a vital save to preserve the clean sheet. His distribution was calm and collected. From our perspective, he did exactly what was required of him, showing great concentration.

Defenders

Ali Dembélé - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance on the flank. He was solid defensively, winning his duels and making a few important tackles before being substituted. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but he fulfilled his defensive duties without any fuss. A decent outing.

Saúl Coco - 7.0: A composed and authoritative figure at the heart of the defense. He read the game well, making crucial clearances and interceptions. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise very solid performance. We noticed his leadership qualities throughout the match.

Ardian Ismajli - 6.5: Thought he had doubled Torino's lead, only for VAR to cruelly rule it out. He was a threat in the opposition box but looked a little clumsy at the back at times. He gave away a few needless fouls, but his physical presence was certainly a handful for the Pisa forwards.

Midfielders

Marcus Pedersen - 6.5: A bundle of energy down the right side. He was constantly looking to get forward and delivered a few dangerous crosses into the box. His final product was a bit hit-or-miss, and it was a shame to see him forced off with an injury. He was a willing runner all game.

Cesare Casadei - 8.0: The clear man of the match. His early header was perfectly placed and ultimately won the game for his team. Beyond the goal, he was a commanding presence in midfield, breaking up play and driving forward with purpose. His passing was crisp and he was a constant threat. What a performance.

Niels Nkounkou - 7.5: A fantastic creative outlet for Torino, creating the most chances of anyone on the pitch. His energy down the left was relentless, though he was sometimes guilty of losing possession too easily. Despite that, his positive, attacking play was a key part of Torino's dominance. He was exciting to watch.

Adrien Tamèze - 6.0: The captain put in a shift but struggled to impose himself on the game. He had a few shots blocked and missed a notable chance which he should have done better with. We noticed he worked hard, but it just wasn't his day in terms of tangible impact.

Forwards

Ché Adams - 6.5: Linked up play nicely in the opening stages and created a good chance for a teammate. However, he faded as the first half wore on and was largely anonymous until his substitution. We expected more from him, but it was a quiet evening for the striker.

Cyril Ngonge - 7.0: Provided the assist for Casadei's winner with a well-taken corner. He looked sharp and dangerous, but his decision-making let him down at times. He was caught offside twice and seemed a bit too eager, but his contribution for the goal was vital.

Alieu Njie - 6.0: Had a couple of sighters at goal but never really tested the Pisa goalkeeper. He showed some nice touches but lacked the cutting edge required in the final third. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted after 65 minutes. A willing worker but offered little threat.

Substitutes

Nikola Vlasic - N/A: Came on to help see out the game.
Giovanni Simeone - N/A: Added fresh legs up front.
Zakaria Aboukhlal - N/A: Brought energy but also picked up a booking.
Kristjan Asllani - N/A: Looked tidy in his brief cameo.
Valentino Lazaro - N/A: Replaced the injured Pedersen and slotted in seamlessly.

Manager

M. Baroni - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. Getting the early goal allowed his team to control the match from a position of strength. His side was well-organized and completely nullified Pisa, especially after the red card. His substitutions were sensible and ensured there were no late hiccups.

Pisa Player Ratings vs Torino

Here are the Pisa player ratings vs Torino.

Goalkeeper

Simone Scuffet - 7.0: He can't be faulted for the goal, which was a brilliant header. He made several key saves throughout the match to keep the scoreline respectable for Pisa. Without him, the defeat could have been much heavier. A strong performance in a losing cause.

Defenders

Simone Canestrelli - 6.0: As the captain, he had the tough task of marshalling a defense under constant pressure. He made a number of important clearances but ultimately couldn't prevent the early goal that defined the game. A difficult evening for the skipper.

Raúl Albiol - 5.5: A very tough night for the veteran defender. He was booked early on and seemed a step off the pace. Being caught offside as a central defender is unusual and summed up a performance where he just seemed a bit lost. Substituted after a difficult 68 minutes.

Jeremy Kandje Mbambi - 6.5: Probably the best of a beleaguered Pisa backline. He was incredibly busy, making a high number of tackles and clearances to repel Torino attacks. He fought hard and showed good determination, even when the game was running away from his team.

Midfielders

Samuele Angori - 6.0: He was adept at drawing fouls, winning his side several free-kicks in useful areas. However, he was very wasteful in possession, which often invited more pressure onto his team. A mixed bag of a performance.

Malthe Højholt - 5.5: Covered a lot of ground but had very little influence on the proceedings. His passing stats look decent, but most of them were safe, sideways passes that did little to trouble Torino. He was bypassed too easily by the home side's midfield.

Juan Cuadrado - 3.0: A disastrous performance. Getting a straight red card for unsportsmanlike conduct was inexcusable and completely killed any slim hope his team had of getting back into the game. He let his teammates and manager down badly. The worst performer on the pitch by a long shot.

İsak Vural - 6.0: One of the few Pisa players who looked like he might create something. He showed some neat footwork and tried to drive his team forward. However, his influence was limited, and he was eventually substituted. A flicker of promise in a dark performance.

Forwards

Henrik Meister - 5.5: Completely isolated and starved of service. The game passed him by entirely, and he barely had a touch of the ball in any dangerous areas. It’s hard to be too critical when the team behind you is struggling so much, but he was totally ineffective.

Gabriele Piccinini - 6.0: He tried to get involved but, like his fellow attackers, had a frustrating evening. He picked up a yellow card and was often forced into defensive work rather than being able to influence the game in the final third. A tireless but fruitless effort.

Lorran - 5.0: An entirely anonymous first half. He offered nothing in attack and was rightly hooked at halftime. It was a performance you'd struggle to remember anything from, which is never a good sign for a forward.

Substitutes

Idrissa Touré - N/A: Brought on at half time but couldn't change the game.
Giovanni Bonfanti - N/A: Came on to shore up the defense.
Louis Buffon - N/A: Had a couple of blocked shots.
Mattéo Tramoni - N/A: Forced a good save late on.
Brando Bettazzi - N/A: Minimal impact after coming on.

Manager

A. Gilardino - 5.0: His team looked out of their depth from the first whistle. They were second best all over the park, and his tactics seemed to do little to counter Torino's early dominance. The red card wasn't his fault, but his team offered almost no attacking threat throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Cesare Casadei