Jorge Martinez's 87th-minute header helped Catania claim their first league win of the season at home to Cagliari.

The Sicilians had gone ahead through Adrian Ricchiuti after 37 minutes only to see their advantage pegged back on the stroke of half-time by Daniele Dessena's acrobatic volley.

Catania looked set to go without a league win for the ninth consecutive game until Uruguay international Martinez popped up at the end to head home substitute Takayuki Morimoto's perfectly-weighted cross.

The win moves Catania out of the relegation zone and level with Cagliari on seven points from eight games.

The hosts were first to threaten when Giuseppe Mascara broke clear down the right wing but his delivery let him down as he failed to pick out three unmarked team-mates and allow Federico Marchetti to come out and claim his cross.

At the other end Cagliari's Alessandro Matri spurned a good chance when Andrea Cossu rode a couple of challenges before sliding through a pass that the striker helped just wide of the post.

Matri then combined with Daniele Conti in a neat passing exchange before some last-gasp defending denied the striker when he was about to pull the trigger.

Catania took the lead after 37 minutes following a well-worked free-kick routine.

Davide Atzori began the move which involved a quick exchange between Cristian Llama and Alessandro Potenza before a flick to Mascara pulled the defence out of position.

Mascara then provided the killer ball when he headed across to Ricchiuti who, now unmarked, had the simplest of tasks to tap home.

It was a clever move in an otherwise forgettable first half, however, the strike was cancelled out in equally impressive fashion by Dessena in the 45th minute.

Lino Marzoratti's cross from the right was slightly behind Dessena, but the 22-year-old midfielder reacted superbly as he expertly bicycle-kicked the ball past an unmoved Andrea Campagnolo.

After the break Matri spurned another chance when he mis-kicked following Jeda's cross.

Martinez was then denied by the crossbar from close range on the hour mark after Mariano Izco played him in.

Catania were inspired by the arrival of Morimoto, who came on for Mascara, with the Japan international immediately lively as he dribbled through the away defence before his pass to Ricchiuti was hacked clear.

Martinez then crossed for Morimoto who shot narrowly wide, but it was that pair who combined for the winner three minutes from the end.

Morimoto sped past Alessandro Agostini down the right before delivering a cross that Martinez did not have to break stride to power home the winning header.