By Daily Sports on June 18, 2020
Napoli stunned Juventus when they won 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw to claim the Coppa Italia on Wednesday and bring their fiery coach Gennaro Gattuso the first major trophy of his coaching career.
Paulo Dybala and Danilo missed Juve's first two efforts in the shootout while Napoli converted all of their attempts to win the trophy for the sixth time while also ending Juve's hopes of winning the treble this season.
It was the first title to be settled in the Italian season which has just restarted after a three-month hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although it had been planned for the players to collect their own medals in a "self-service" ceremony, the Napoli players received theirs from the respective club presidents Aurelio De Laurentiis and Andrea Agnelli.
It was a remarkable achievement for 42-year-old Gattuso, who took over Napoli in December with the team in disarray after the players had rebelled against a week-long training camp imposed on them by the De Laurentiis.
Napoli could have won without penalties but were defied by an outstanding double save from Gianluigi Buffon in stoppage time.
The 42-year-old Juventus goalkeeper blocked Nikola Maksimovic's powerful header and turned Eljif Elmas' effort from the rebound onto the post from point-blank range.
Napoli had the best chances throughout the game while Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo saw little of the ball and had a frustrating evening.
Lorenzo Insigne hit the post with a 30-metre free kick in the first half and saw another effort stopped by Buffon, while Arkadiusz Milik could also have won it for Napoli but sent a shot over the bar from in the 72nd minute. (Reuters)
•PHOTO: Napoli players
Source Daily Sports
Posted June 18, 2020
You may also like...
Courtois extends Real Madrid Contract To 2026
C/wealth Games, Dalung gives marching orders
Man City’s Foden Promises No Let-Up In Title...
Xavi Favourite To Take Over Barcelona Coaching Job...
Caf Champions League: Rivers Angels Hopeful Of A...
‘Super Falcons, Go For The World Cup Ticket’-...

Finidi blames poor concentration for Rivers’ CAFCL collapse
Again, Falcons risk missing FIFA window
D’Tigers unveil 12-man squad for W’Cup qualifiers
Oluwafemiayo powers Nigeria to gold in Riyadh
NOC hails host school after sports administration course
Nigerian football suffering from nepotism – Cyro
SWAN Congratulates Victorious Anambra Beach Soccer Champion
Bash Ali makes legendary ring return today
Abeokuta set for maiden West African para games
S/E SWAN Commiserates With Rangers Int'l FC Over Passing Media Director, Norbert Okolie
Joshua returned boxing to limelight — Froch
Aruna ousted in Muscat contender opener
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,363 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,592 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,532 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,166 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,150 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,069 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,909 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,491 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,620 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,187 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,581 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,058 views)