Juventus Eliminated from Coppa Italia After Penalty Shootout Defeat to Empoli
Juventus suffered a disappointing exit from the Coppa Italia after losing to Empoli in a penalty shootout. The match at the Allianz Stadium ended 1-1 in regulation time, but Empoli secured a 4-2 victory in the shootout to advance to the semi-finals.
Match Summary
Empoli took the lead in the 24th minute when Youssef Maleh found the back of the net with a powerful strike. Juventus responded in the second half, with Khephren Thuram scoring an equalizer after a brilliant solo run. Despite pressing for a winner, Juventus failed to break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout.
In the decisive shootout, Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz both missed their penalties for Juventus. Empoli remained composed, and Luca Marianucci converted the winning spot-kick to seal a historic victory for the visitors, who reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Thiago Motta's Reaction
After the match, Juventus head coach Thiago Motta expressed his frustration with the team’s performance. He criticized the players for lacking the right attitude and emphasized the importance of taking responsibility. Motta admitted that the result was unacceptable and urged his squad to improve moving forward.
Empoli’s Remarkable Cup Run
Empoli’s victory was particularly significant given their recent struggles in Serie A, where they have been unable to secure a league win in their last 11 matches. Despite their poor domestic form, they have shown resilience in the Coppa Italia, previously overcoming Fiorentina in another penalty shootout. Their reward for this victory is a semi-final clash against Bologna, while the other fixture will see Inter Milan face AC Milan in a highly anticipated derby.
Juventus’ Season in Jeopardy
This latest setback adds to Juventus’ recent disappointments, including their elimination from the UEFA Champions League. With only Serie A left to compete for this season, the team will need to regroup quickly to avoid further struggles. Coach Motta now faces the challenge of restoring confidence and guiding the squad through a crucial period in their campaign.
No comments:
Post a Comment