Cavese vs Sarnese

Kargbo's 45th-minute goal was the decisive moment. Scored just before the whistle, it gave Cavese a platform to manage the second half without urgency, while Sarnese's wholesale changes disrupted any chance of building rhythm for a response. The trialist would later be substituted in the 54th minute for Fusco.

• Kargbo Jr. (Cavese) — Match-winner with a well-taken goal on the stroke of half-time. The forward finished his trial period with Cavese on a high note; Italian media later reported that the club were weighing up whether to offer him terms based partly on this display.
• Juwer (Cavese) — Played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Biancoblu, keeping a clean sheet against a Sarnese side that created little after the break.
• Personeni & Awua (Cavese) — Both played the entire match, with Awua anchoring the midfield as Masitto tested the pair's durability ahead of Serie C duty.
• Ivan Ponziglione (Cavese) — The 2007-born attacking midfielder made a late cameo (82nd minute), having come through youth ranks at Potenza, Crotone and Salernitana.

No official xG or detailed shot data was published for this friendly. The single first-half goal tells the story: a tight contest where both sides prioritised tactical structure over attacking abandon. Cavese's first-choice back three — Personeni, Cionek and Nunziata — held firm for 65 minutes before rotation took effect. Sarnese's 11 half-time substitutions made it effectively two different teams across the 90 minutes, which limited any sustained offensive threat.

For Cavese, the result extends a generally positive pre-season as they build towards their Serie C opener. The match offered valuable minutes for key players (Juwer, Personeni, Awua) who played the full game, while the emergence of youngster Ponziglione added a storyline for the future. Kargbo Jr.'s goal put him in contention for a contract.

Not involved were Boffelli, Cappa, Acerbo, Di Costanzo and Suplja — the latter among those expected to leave the club. Defender Evangelisti's transfer to Sorrento was already finalised. Several others — Peretti, Bertini, Diarrassouba, Minaj (recovering from forearm tendon surgery) and Mannucci (fractured nasal septum) — sat out as a precaution.

Sarnese, preparing for the upcoming Serie D campaign under Schiattarella, used the friendly primarily to give minutes to a large squad. Their 11 half-time changes reflected the priority on conditioning over result.

Cavese's next fixture: vs Audace Cerignola (Serie C), 28 August 2026 Sarnese's next fixture: TBC (Serie D 2026-27 season)

A disciplined, workmanlike friendly decided by one moment of quality. Cavese's organisation under Masitto looks intact, while Kargbo Jr. gave the coaching staff food for thought. Sarnese departed with a largely experimental second half and will be judged on sharper tests closer to the Serie D kick-off.