Coppa Italia | Fiorentina 0-0 Bologna: Viola win another shoot-out

Fiorentina have been saved by the woodwork thrice towards Bologna, solely to finally win a tense penalty shoot-out and attain the Coppa Italia semi-final.

They may face both Milan or Atalanta within the two-legged showdown.

The Viola reached the Last final season and have been hoping to take action once more, however missed Nico Gonzalez, Christian Kouame, Riccardo Sottil, Dodo and Gaetano Castrovilli. Bologna eradicated reigning holders Inter in additional time, however right here have been with out Dan Ndoye, Jesper Karlsson and Adama Soumaoro. When these sides met in Serie A in November, Fiorentina ran out 2-1 winners.

Vincenzo Italiano debuted a brand new tactical system, defending with three on the again at instances.

Alexis Saelemaekers stung Oliver Christensen’s gloves from distance, whereas Lukasz Skorupski pushed the Michael Kayode half-volley out from underneath the bar.

Joshua Zirkzee was despatched clear on aim by Lewis Ferguson just for his first contact to let him down, whereas Riccardo Orsolini’s strike on the counter was charged down by Nikola Milenkovic.

Zirkzee thought he had scored on 34 minutes after a sensational flip left Milenkovic stranded, however the end from 12 yards clipped the crossbar as he was leaning again.

Orsolini additionally thumped the body of the aim, his low roller from the sting of the field bouncing off the bottom of the far publish straight after the restart.

M’Bala Nzola got here on and instantly ran onto a Beltran slide-rule cross, forcing Skorupski to come back dashing out, whereas Lewis Ferguson examined Christensen on the close to publish.

Nzola’s first contact let him down after a wise Beltran headed help, throughout which the Argentine bought a nasty knock to the nostril, forcing him off the sphere.

Fiorentina virtually scored with the final kick of the sport when a nook got here to Maxime Lopez, the shot was deflected and Lucas Martinez-Quarta’s header to redirect from shut vary was saved out by Skorupski’s response save.

It went to additional time and Christensen pushed a Zirkzee end onto the surface of the upright on a Saelemaekers help.

Kristiansen’s volley was straight at Christensen, however Martinez-Quarta wasted one other golden alternative with the shot on the flip parried by Skorupski from point-blank vary after a nook.

Kayode actually ought to’ve scored on 109 minutes when he was discovered by Rolando Mandragora’s cross on the again publish, however extremely his free header was to date off beam that it went for a throw-in.

Orsolini had a sensational first contact to interrupt away on Zirkzee’s cross, however Christensen got here tearing out to smother at his toes.

There was no dividing the groups, so it went to a penalty shoot-out, simply as Fiorentina had performed to get previous Parma within the Spherical of 16.

All of the penalties have been transformed apart from the ultimate Bologna kick, which Stefan Posch blazed over the crossbar, permitting Maxime Lopez to seal victory for Fiorentina.

And Fiorentina are into the Coppa Italia Semi-Finals as Maxime Lopez seals the win! 🟣

Posch’s penalty miss proved expensive for Bologna😬 pic.twitter.com/HumAkSRt19

— Viaplay Sports activities UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 9, 2024

Fiorentina 0-0 Bologna (aet, 5-4 pens)

Penalties: Ferguson (Bologna, aim), Mandragora (Fiorentina, aim), Zirkzee (Bologna, aim), Arthur (Fiorentina, aim), Orsolini (Bologna, aim), Milenkovic (Fiorentina, aim), Calafiori (Bologna, aim), Mina (Fiorentina, aim), Posch (Bologna, miss), Maxime Lopez (Fiorentina, aim)

28

26

87′

31

3

15

56

19

20

87′

8

9

7

22

29

82

77

23

34

80

16

33

87′

6

87′