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 deal with 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 received 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 received 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 advised broadcaster Mediaset. “I did not suppose I might instantly come again and get my very own again. However we succeeded and I am glad.
“I add an vital 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. A lot of them have been in tears of pleasure, very like a few of the 1000’s of Bologna followers within the stands.
And the 47-year-old coach was desperate to get again to the festivities.
“Now let me go and have a good time, as a result of that is one thing actually unbelievable,” Italiano mentioned with a smile on the finish of his tv interview.
ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP through 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 could possibly be decisive. I believe that displays our season,” Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao advised Sport Mediaset.
“I’m disenchanted in shedding a ultimate and the chance to win silverware, in a tough season with a really tough surroundings.
“On the finish of the day, I’ve to congratulate Bologna, as they performed their recreation properly 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 probabilities, the groups went into the break goalless after some sharp saves at both finish.
Milan keeper Mike Maignan was referred to as into motion throughout 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 powerful 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 deal with 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.