Related News
Napoli edges Juve in penalty thriller for Italian Super Cup
Print Edition
Napoli ended Juventus’ hopes of securing a record seventh Italian Super Cup after snatching a dramatic 6-5 shootout win in the final that stretched to 18 nerve-jangling penalties in Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday.
Carlos Tevez fired league champion Juventus ahead twice but Gonzalo Higuain scored two equalizers to send the game into penalties.
Tevez looked to have won the game in extra time when he handed Juventus a 2-1 lead with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. But with three minutes to go, Higuain also found the back of the net for a second time to set up the electrifying finish.
In a thrilling penalty shootout that saw both keepers produce a string of stunning saves, Buffon made three saves but his acrobatic efforts were not enough as Juventus missed four spot kicks.
The shootout started ominously for both teams with Tevez and Jorginho failing to score. Both teams then scored each of their next five penalties, before missing the next two. When Kalidou Koulibaly put Napoli 6-5 ahead, goalkeeper Rafael Cabral finally brought the shootout to an end by denying Simone Padoin, allowing Napoli fans to celebrate a memorable upset victory.
As Rafa Benitez’s side rejoiced at winning its second Super Cup — its first triumph in the competition since 1990 — Juventus was left to reflect on the missed chances that denied it a third straight title in the competition.
The last time the teams met in the Super Cup final was in 2012 when Juventus secured a comfortable win in Beijing.
“Everyone should be happy, beating such a strong team like Juventus is wonderful,” Napoli coach Rafa Benitez said. “I am happy for Rafael, I am happy for Higuain, I am happy for everyone who believed in us. ... It’s my 12th trophy, my 10th cup, but what matters is that we won this for Naples and our supporters.”
The defeat denied coach Massimiliano Allegri a first trophy in charge of the Bianconeri.
“It was a good game,” Allegri said. “We didn’t manage to win on penalties despite three match points. I’m disappointed, we played well apart from at the start of the second half. Then we conceded right at the death.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
