Cesc Fabregas’s Como Makes History: Napoli Dumped Out of Coppa Italia in Shootout Thriller

In a night that will be etched into the folklore of Larian football, Como 1907 stunned the Italian giants Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. After a grueling 1-1 draw in regulation time, the visitors held their nerve to win 7-6 on penalties, ending a 40-year wait to return to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Manager Cesc Fabregas delivered a tactical masterpiece as his side defied the odds to topple Antonio Conte’s high-flying Napoli.

A Tactical Chess Match in Naples

The first half saw a disciplined Como side frustrate the hosts. Despite Napoli’s superior possession, they struggled to break through a compact defensive line. The breakthrough came in the 39th minute following a VAR intervention.

Baturina Silences the Maradona

After Ivan Smolcic was fouled inside the box by Mathias Olivera, the referee pointed to the spot. Martin Baturina stepped up under immense pressure and clinically converted the penalty, sending the visitors into the break with a shock 1-0 lead.

Napoli’s Instant Response

The second half began with an explosive start from the Partenopei. Within just 43 seconds of the restart, Antonio Vergara capitalized on a neat flick from Rasmus Hojlund. Vergara showed immense composure to slot the ball past Jean Butez, leveling the score and reigniting the home crowd.

The High-Stakes Penalty Drama

With no extra time played in this year’s competition, the match moved straight to a shootout. The tension was palpable as the two sides traded blows in a marathon session of 16 penalties.

• The Early Miss: Napoli’s star striker Romelu Lukaku uncharacteristically dragged his effort wide, giving Como an early opening.

• The Response: Como’s Maximo Perrone saw his attempt saved by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, sending the shootout into the high-pressure realm of sudden death.

• The Deciding Moment: After 14 successful kicks, the responsibility fell on Stanislav Lobotka. Como goalkeeper Jean Butez produced a magnificent diving save to his right, parrying the ball away and sealing a historic triumph for the underdogs.

Semi-Final Bound: A Date with Inter Milan

This victory marks the first time since 1986 that Como has reached the final four of the Italian Cup. Their reward is a mouth-watering two-legged semi-final against Inter Milan.

Key Dates for the Semi-Finals:

While Atalanta waits for the winner of the Bologna vs. Lazio clash on the other side of the bracket, all eyes are now on Como to see if their fairy-tale run can take them all the way to the final in Rome this May.