Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Atalanta beats Napoli to reach cup final against Juventus

Sport

Atalanta beats Napoli to reach cup final against Juventus
Sport

Sport

Atalanta beats Napoli to reach cup final against Juventus

2021-02-11 05:57 Last Updated At:06:00

Atalanta beat defending champion Napoli 3-1 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Juventus.

Matteo Pessina scored twice after Duván Zapata had given Atalanta an early lead in the semifinal. Hirving Lozano netted early in the second half for Napoli.

More Images
Atalanta's Matteo Pessina celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta beat defending champion Napoli 3-1 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Juventus.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, top, in action during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

It will be Atalanta’s fifth final. Its most recent was in 2019 but it hasn’t won the trophy since 1963.

Atalanta's Duvan Zapata, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Zapata turned provider six minutes later, laying off Robin Gosens’ pass for Pessina to fire in off the inside of the left post.

Atalanta's Bosko Sutalo, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Hirving Lozano during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina scores a goal during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina scores a goal during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina controls the ball during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina controls the ball during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Jose Luis Palomino, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Jose Luis Palomino, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

The final will be held on May 19 with Juventus looking for a record-extending 14th Italian Cup title. Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-1 on aggregate to reach its 20th final.

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

It will be Atalanta’s fifth final. Its most recent was in 2019 but it hasn’t won the trophy since 1963.

The first leg between Napoli and Atalanta ended 0-0 last week.

Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a long-range strike from Zapata that swerved into the far side of the net.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, top, in action during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, top, in action during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Zapata turned provider six minutes later, laying off Robin Gosens’ pass for Pessina to fire in off the inside of the left post.

Atalanta had chances to score a third before Lozano reduced the deficit eight minutes into the second half, firing in a rebound after being denied by a save from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Gollini pulled off another save to deny Victor James Osimhen shortly before Atalanta sealed the match in the 78th minte, when Pessina mazed his way between two Napoli players before chipping the ball over goalkeeper David Ospina.

Atalanta's Duvan Zapata, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Duvan Zapata, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Atalanta's Bosko Sutalo, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Hirving Lozano during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Bosko Sutalo, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Hirving Lozano during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina scores a goal during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina scores a goal during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina controls the ball during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Matteo Pessina controls the ball during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Jose Luis Palomino, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Jose Luis Palomino, right, battles for the ball with Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the Italian Cup, return-leg, semifinal soccer match between Atalanta and Napoli, at the Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Stefano NicoliLaPresse via AP)

Next Article

Juventus beats Fiorentina to advance to Italian Cup final

2022-04-21 05:10 Last Updated At:05:20

Federico Bernardeschi scored against his former club as Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Inter Milan.

After Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski failed to intercept a cross, Bernardeschi controlled the ball with his chest then volleyed in shortly after the half-hour mark.

Danilo sealed it in stoppage time after being set up by Juan Cuadrado.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Aiming to defend its title, Juventus advanced on 3-0 aggregate.

Defending Serie A champion Inter beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Tuesday to advance.

Juventus has won the Italian Cup a record 14 times, while Inter has seven trophies in the competition — the last from 2011.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The final is scheduled for May 11.

Juventus also had a goal from Adrien Rabiot wiped off for offside following a VAR check.

SALERNITANA SUCCESS

An injury-time winner earned Salernitana a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A, keeping the southern club’s hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Having won at Sampdoria on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that Salernitana posted consecutive victories.

Substitute Simone Verdi finished off a counterattack three minutes into stoppage time.

The bottom three clubs — Venezia, Salernitana and Genoa — are now level on points, each six points from safety.

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

The match was postponed four months ago amid a coronavirus outbreak within Salernitana’s squad.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports