by Guido De Carolis, sent to Florence
Regular time wasn’t enough, nor extra time: the Italian Cup quarter-final match was decided on penalties
Fiorentina goes to the semi-final. In the 120th minute it ended 0-0, Posch’s error was decisive in the penalty shootout: the Viola won 5-4. Now the Tuscans are dreaming big: the opponent on the road to the final will be the winner of tonight’s Milan-Atalanta. Italiano had proposed an unprecedented, three-man defence: not a great idea. Bologna takes their time to adjust, risking a little on Kayode’s shot, but from the half hour they put the Viola in the lead. Orsolini slides in, driven by the Scotsman Ferguson, clear in inviting Zirkzee to shoot. The Dutchman clears the first shot, the other hits the crossbar. Fiorentina concedes, Bologna doesn’t capitalize.
The two emerging coaches, Italiano and Motta, play it out on the board, but the rossobls are more brilliant than the violas, light in front and late on the constant insertions of the opposing midfielders. The second half brings no help to Italiano, Bologna raises the pace and only the post stops Orsolini. Fiorentina were in a bad position on the pitch, stunned by the Rossoblu’s dribbling. The arrivals of Bonaventura and Nzola (Motta’s great enemy in La Spezia) gave the Viola some oxygen, but not enough to change the outcome. Beltran’s injury almost helps Italiano, because Arthur’s entry balances the match and Skorupski saves Martinez Quarta after time expires. Extra time opens with another Bologma post on Zirkzee’s shot. Fourth has two more chances, the most sensational being Kayode’s miss. But the result doesn’t come off. Until the penalties. Posch’s error for Bologna and the decisive penalty scored by Maxime Lopez for Fiorentina decide. The Italian team will meet the winner between Milan and Atalanta in the semi-final, another quarter-final match scheduled for Wednesday evening at San Siro.
HERE is the match report
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January 9, 2024 (modified January 9, 2024 | 11:54 pm)
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