Friendly Match | Cagliari-Modena 1-0

In the second friendly match of the training camp in Ponte di Legno, on the lawn of the Temù municipal field, Cagliari beat Modena 1-0, thanks to a late goal by Kingstone. After the 0-0 draw against Sampdoria, the rossoblù thus found their first success of their summer preparation at the end of a balanced match full of indications for Fabio Pisacane.

The start was marked by a slow pace and a period of exploration between the two teams. Cagliari attempted to build primarily down the right flank and through the middle, with Mendy playing well with his back to goal. Di Paolo and Esposito had the first shots, but they didn’t trouble the Emilian defense. Modena grew as the minutes passed, threatening through Caso, who was stopped first by Caprile and then by the Rossoblu defense. The clearest chance of the first half came in the 20th minute, when Mendes hit the post with a right-footed shot that beat the Rossoblu keeper. Cagliari responded through Mendy, who made a couple of good offensive moves, but first he lacked precision with his header and then the move fizzled out inside the box. The scoreline went into halftime at 0-0.

In the second half Pisacane changes the face of the team by introducing fresh forces, while Modena in turn makes several substitutions. The rossoblù make their presence known with Borrelli, who challenges Chichizola with a conclusion from inside the area, but Modena again creates an important opportunity with Montevago, stopped by Radunovic’s excellent low exit. In the final, Cagliari grows and the pressure increases. Kingstone tries twice to make himself dangerous, while Grandu comes close to taking the lead with a diagonal shot that ends just wide. The decisive goal arrives in the 87th minute: following the development of a confusing move in the Modena area, Kingstone finds the winning deflection, scoring the 1-0 which decides the match. After two minutes of injury time the final whistle arrives: Cagliari thus wins the first victory of their pre-season, offering new positive signs in view of the next summer preparation commitments.

Scoreboard

Cagliari: Caprile (61° Radunovic); Zappa (46° Zé Pedro), Deiola (C), Rodríguez (81° Grandu), Obert; Adopo (46° Fazzini), Romano (61° Prati), Liteta (46° Winks); Di Paolo (61° Albarracín, 81° Raterink), Esposito (61° Cavuoti); Mendy (46° Borrelli, 73° Kingstone). On the bench: Sherri, Kehayov, Akarakiri. Coach: Fabio Pisacane.

Modena: Chichizola (C) (61° Consiglio); Tonoli (61° Beyuku), Nador (61° Adorni), Nieling (61° Ronco); Imputato (46° Bacchin), Bianco (46° Santoro), Brugman (61° Sersanti), Zampano (46° Egharevba, 71° Odero); Olzer (61° Stenio), Caso (61° Bozhanaj); Mendes (46° Montevago). On the bench: Ambrosino, Arnaboldi. Coach: Daniele Galloppa.

Referee: Andrea Tagliaferri (Lovere). Assistants: Gerardo Graziano (Vicenza) – Flavius Costel Condrut (Castelfranco Veneto).

Goal: 87° Kingstone.