Dan Ndoye’s second-half strike earned Bologna a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AC Milan within the Coppa Italia ultimate on Wednesday to safe their first main trophy in 51 years.
Bologna obtained the breakthrough eight minutes after the restart when Milan defender Theo Hernandez’s well-timed sort out on Riccardo Orsolini despatched the ball rolling to an unmarked Ndoye, who calmly slotted it residence from shut vary.
The victory earned Bologna their first piece of main silverware since they gained the identical competitors in 1974 and secured qualification for subsequent season’s Europa League.
The membership, which is owned by Canadian Joey Saputo, has solely gained two second-division titles in between.
It was additionally coach Vincenzo Italiano’s first win in a ultimate, having misplaced back-to-back Europa Convention League title matches whereas in command of Fiorentina and ending runner-up within the 2023 Italian Cup.
“They have been three hefty disappointments,” Italiano instructed broadcaster Mediaset. “I did not assume I might instantly come again and get my very own again. However we succeeded and I am glad.
“I add an essential trophy to my mantlepiece and I actually dedicate it to the blokes, who have been extraordinary.”
Italiano had been flung within the air by his gamers in celebration instantly after the ultimate whistle. Lots of them have been in tears of pleasure, very similar to a few of the hundreds of Bologna followers within the stands.
And the 47-year-old coach was desirous to get again to the festivities.
“Now let me go and rejoice, as a result of that is one thing actually unbelievable,” Italiano stated with a smile on the finish of his tv interview.
ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The defeat might have sealed a bittersweet — largely bitter — season for Milan, whose lone silver lining was lifting the Supercoppa Italiana again in January.
Milan now sit eighth on 60 factors in Serie A, 4 adrift of Juventus in fourth, the final Champions League berth, with simply two rounds to go.
“It was a hard-fought match, very aggressive, the place each duel may very well be decisive. I believe that displays our season,” Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao instructed Sport Mediaset.
“I’m disenchanted in dropping a ultimate and the chance to win silverware, in a troublesome season with a really troublesome atmosphere.
“On the finish of the day, I’ve to congratulate Bologna, as they performed their sport nicely and we have been missing one thing.”
The match was an exhilarating replay of Friday’s Serie A encounter, the place Milan triumphed with a dominant 3-1 victory on residence turf.
Each groups have been determined to salvage what had been disappointing seasons, with Bologna sitting in seventh place in Serie A and Milan trailing simply behind in eighth, with solely two matches left to play.
After a fast-paced begin to the primary half, the place each side carved out harmful possibilities, the groups went into the break goalless after some sharp saves at both finish.
Milan keeper Mike Maignan was known as into motion inside the first couple of minutes, making a reflex save from a flicked header by Juan Miranda following a free kick.
Minutes later, Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski pulled off a formidable double cease, saving from an unlucky deflection from teammate Sam Beukema off a cross, then stopping an effort from Milan’s Luka Jovic on the rebound.
Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson was left struggling to stem a nostril bleed when he slid in to sort out Rafael Leão, however caught a blow to the face.
After Bologna obtained the breakthrough, Milan laboured to search out any urgency as their assaults fizzled out lengthy earlier than threatening an equaliser.
Probably the most hanging second late on got here when Beukema collided with a Bologna teammate, leaving his white shirt streaked with blood as medics rushed on to bandage his head.
Info from Reuters and The Related Press was used on this report.
