CAGLIARI (Interstat) — Cagliari U20 held off Como U20 3-2 on Sunday at Campioni d’Italia 1969/70 Asseminello in Cagliari, answering a two-goal performance from Cristiano De Paoli with three different scorers and a late defensive stand. The visitors twice threatened to change the shape of the match, but the hosts protected their advantage after the second De Paoli goal and closed out the result in front of their home support. The game remained competitive through the closing stages, with Como U20 pushing for an equalizer and Cagliari U20 managing the final minutes without conceding again.

Como U20 struck first in the 15th minute when De Paoli found the net. Cagliari U20 responded in the 22nd minute through Luca Costa, leveling the match and shifting momentum back toward the home side. Alessandro Sugamele then put Cagliari U20 ahead in the 30th minute, completing a quick turnaround that sent the hosts into the break with a one-goal lead. The second half remained tight until Luca Tronci scored in the 74th minute to extend Cagliari U20’s advantage. De Paoli answered again in the 76th minute for Como U20, but Cagliari U20 kept the visitors from finding a third goal over the remaining minutes.

De Paoli scored both of Como U20’s goals. For Cagliari U20, Costa, Sugamele and Tronci each scored once, giving the home side a spread-out scoring effort. The match featured a fast sequence of goals around the half-hour mark and another exchange in the final quarter-hour, but neither side added to the scoring after De Paoli’s second goal. Cagliari U20’s defense did not allow another breakthrough in the late going.

The result moved Cagliari U20’s record in this competition to 3 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws. Cagliari U20’s record across all competitions also stands at 3 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws. Como U20’s record in this competition is now 2 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, and its record across all competitions is also 2 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws. The home victory gave Cagliari U20 the full share of the points in a match that had been closely contested from the opening whistle. Como U20 left with a second consecutive league defeat in the competition. The win was Cagliari U20’s third in the competition this season. The loss was Como U20’s fourth in the competition this season.

Cagliari U20’s previous results this season were a 0-2 loss at AC Milan U20, a 1-1 draw with Monza U20, a 2-2 draw at Parma U20, a 1-6 loss at Inter U20, a 2-1 win over Sassuolo U20, a 1-3 loss to Bologna U20 and a 2-0 win at Albino U20. Como U20’s previous results were a 1-0 win over Verona U20, a 2-2 draw at Inter U20, a 1-2 loss to Bologna U20, a 1-1 draw at AS Roma U20, a 4-2 win at Torino U20, a 0-0 draw with Juventus U20 and a 0-1 loss at Empoli U20. Cagliari U20 controlled portions of the first half after conceding early, and the response from Costa and Sugamele changed the course of the game before halftime. Como U20 stayed within reach because of De Paoli, whose finishing kept the visitors in contention. The second half produced fewer clear chances until Tronci’s goal, and De Paoli’s immediate reply restored tension. Cagliari U20 then saw out the final stretch, preserving the one-goal margin and securing the win at home.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cagliari U20 1, Como U20 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Cagliari U20 with a 75.8 percent probability to win.