Looking to ease their relegation fears, the hosts created the first golden chance of the game as a delightful whipped cross from Tommaso Augello was met in the air by Roberto Piccoli, but the striker failed to get a clean connection on the ball and it bounced wide of the target.
Augello’s delivery from the left was causing problems, and his corner was flicked towards goal by Gabriele Zappa just after the half-hour mark, but some heroic goalkeeping from Lorenzo Montipo kept the contest scoreless.
Despite a quiet first half, the visitors almost snatched the lead just before the break when the ball fell to Darko Lazovic in the box, but with the goal gaping he sliced his effort horribly wide.
Lazovic was involved again after the restart after being picked out by Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross, but his bullet header agonisingly clipped the bar before going over.
At the other end, Augello’s balls into the box continued to cause chaos, with a cross looped towards goal as Montipo lay helpless on the floor landing on the roof of the net as the nervous home crowd drew their breath.
Heading into the final 15 minutes, it looked like both defences would come out on top, but some neat passing from the hosts resulted in Mattia Felici cutting the ball back from the byline for Piccoli to slide into the net to give Cagliari a precious lead.
Having been in such poor form, a nervy ending appeared to be in store for Cagliari, but only an outstanding double save from Montipo prevented them from doubling the lead as the visitors succumbed to defeat.
Victory lifts Cagliari four points clear of the drop zone, albeit having played a game more than their rivals in a tight bottom half.
Verona sit perilously just two points clear of danger, and could slip into the bottom three should results elsewhere go against them over the weekend.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tommaso Augello (Cagliari)