MATCH REPORT | Cagliari-Nizza 4-2 after penalties

Cagliari beat Nice on penalties and won the second “Gigi Riva Trophy” at the end of a balanced match, which ended 0-0 in the 90 minutes. Fabio Pisacane’s rossoblù played an orderly match, creating the clearest chances especially in the first half. The match opens at a slow pace and Cagliari tries to build from the bottom. Nice gradually took the field and in the 11th minute came close to taking the lead with Clauss, who shot from a tight angle without finding the target. In the 16th minute the French are forced to make a first substitution: Abergel, who left the field after a clash with Romano, gives way to Camara.

Cagliari grows as the minutes pass and in the 18th minute they build their first opportunity with Mendy, who misses the target with his header following a free kick from Fazzini. In the 33rd minute the rossoblù came close to taking the lead: Mendy recovered the ball and served Trepy, who headed the ball off a defender’s deflection and hit the crossbar. At the end of the first half, Nice tried to become dangerous again, but without creating any concrete opportunities. We go to half-time at 0-0. At the start of the second half Nice immediately tried to push, but Caprile was careful about Hein’s shot. Cagliari responded in the 51st minute with Trepy, anticipated by the French defense following the development of a ball served by Zé Pedro. The rossoblù increased the pressure and in the 54th minute Kingstone was the protagonist of a good initiative on the wing, but his shot was blocked for a corner kick. Shortly afterwards the attacker also tries an overhead kick without managing to hit the ball well. In the 61st minute a great opportunity arrives for Cagliari: Romano throws Trepy deep, but the number 10 tries the lob in front of the goalkeeper and misses the target. Pisacane then inserts Prati and Felici, who take the place of Winks and Trepy himself. In the final, Cagliari continued to look for a goal, but Diouf responded first with Felici’s shot and then with Fazzini’s long-range attempt. The rossoblù increased the pressure in the final minutes, but were unable to break the deadlock. After 90 minutes it was still 0-0 and the match was decided on penalties. Cagliari proved impeccable from the spot: Felici, Obert and Prati scored, while Caprile was the protagonist with two decisive saves. The rossoblù thus complete the series and win the Gigi Riva Trophy.