12/03/25 01:56:00
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12/03 13:51 CST Napoli triumphs in dramatic penalty shootout to reach Italian
Cup quarterfinals
Napoli triumphs in dramatic penalty shootout to reach Italian Cup quarterfinals
By DANIELLA MATAR
AP Sports Writer
MILAN (AP) --- Napoli advanced to the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup by
winning a lengthy penalty shootout against Cagliari following a 1-1 draw in
regular time Wednesday.
Antonio Conte's team eventually prevailed 9-8 on penalties with Mattia Felici
hitting the crossbar with his spot kick for Cagliari and Zito Luvumbo having
his saved by Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
David Neres could have secured the win for Napoli with his team's fifth
penalty, after Felici's miss, but his spot kick was saved by Elia Caprile.
Instead it was Alessandro Buongiorno who sealed the victory after even
Milinkovic-Savic had taken --- and scored --- a spot kick.
The match had finished 1-1 after Lorenzo Lucca's first-half header for Napoli
was canceled out by Sebastiano Esposito in the 67th minute, following an
accidental assist by home midfielder Scott McTominay.
Napoli will play either Fiorentina or Como in the quarterfinals.
Inter Milan was playing later Wednesday at home against Venezia --- the only
Serie B team left in the competition.
The winner will play either Roma or Torino.
Atalanta to face Juventus
Atalanta set up an Italian Cup quarterfinal match against Juventus with a 4-0
win over 10-man Genoa.
It was Daniele De Rossi 's first defeat as Genoa coach after taking charge at
the beginning of last month.
Berat Djimsiti headed in a cross to give Atalanta the lead in the 19th minute
and Genoa's task became more difficult when teenager Seydou Fini was sent off
in the 36th for bringing down Raoul Bellanova when he was through on goal.
Marten de Roon doubled Atalanta's lead early in the second half with a
powerful, swerving shot from outside the area and Mario Pasalic slid in to fire
home the third late on.
The 17-year-old Honest Ahanor --- who joined Atalanta from Genoa in July ---
scored his first senior goal in stoppage time.
Juventus beat Udinese in their round of 16 match on Tuesday.
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