There were plenty of shocks in the Third Round of the Coppa Italia as Juventus, Lazio, Udinese, Cagliari and Atalanta were all knocked out.Juventus went out after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Napoli, Gigi Buffon eventually missing a penalty in the shoot-out after Mauro Camoranesi’s dismissal.
Juve got off to a great start at the packed out Stadio San Paolo, where 60,000 fans crammed in, as after 27 minutes Giorgio Chiellini nodded in Federico Balzaretti’s cross. However, new signing Cristian Bucchi equalised just before the break with an acrobatic volley. Bucchi was Serie B’s top scorer last term with Modena and again went close with a header, so it was no real surprise when Napoli capitalised on their good play to take the lead. Emanuele Calaio ran on to a defence-splitting pass to waltz round goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Didier Deschamps had to reinforce the side and threw on Alessandro Del Piero for Valeri Bojinov. As against Cesena in the last round, Pinturicchio’s entrance made all the difference, as he unleashed a curling strike from the edge of the box that slammed in off the upright.
In extra time Mauro Camoranesi replaced Pavel Nedved and did little to endear himself to the Juventus fans, as he was sent off for elbowing Montervino soon after stepping on to the field. Napoli didn’t have an advantage for long, as moments later Grava also saw red for a second bookable offence.
The drama was most definitely not over yet in an incredible night. Del Piero thought he had secured victory for Juventus by turning in Balzaretti’s assist with 120 seconds to go. However, Paolo Cannavaro sent the home crowd wild with a spectacular overhead kick right at the death. The final score was 3-3 and only penalties could separate the two fallen giants of Italian football.
Ivano Trotta beat Buffon and the goalkeeper bizarrely took Juve’s first spot-kick himself, but fired it off target. Bucchi and Maurizio Domizzi also converted for Napoli, but Sam Dalla Bona’s effort was saved. Tomas Guzman and Alessandro Birindelli scored for the Bianconeri, then Marco Marchionni’s kick was blocked by Iezzo. Cannavaro had the decisive kick and this time Buffon kept him out, so Del Piero kept his cool to level the scores after five penalties each. The shoot-out continued with Montervino, Chiellini, Amodio scoring, but Balzaretti fired wide to hand victory to Napoli.
The Azzurri continue their Coppa Italia adventure and go on to face Parma in the next phase.
Lazio crashed out of the competition after a very entertaining 4-3 defeat at Messina. The Sicilians were out of the blocks and away with two goals in the opening four minutes scored by Ivica Iliev and Nicolas Cordova, the latter curling in straight from the corner flag. However, Goran Pandev proved decisive in a one-man comeback mission, scoring at the 6th and 69th minute to draw level with a right-foot finish and left-footed free kick. It inevitably went to extra time and Arturo Di Napoli snatched a memorable brace to send the Sicilians through. It was a tense finale, though, as Italian international Tommaso Rocchi scored on a Pandev assist to keep Lazio in it to the death. Messina nonetheless won to set up a meeting with holders Inter in the next round.
Udinese thought they had secured victory away to Arezzo with Sulley Ali Muntari’s first half strike and Morgan De Sanctis saved a late penalty from Antonio Floro Flores, but he could do nothing on Vigna’s follow-up. The goal took the game to extra time and it could only be decided in a penalty shoot-out, with Serie B outfit Arezzo triumphing 7-6 to set up their clash with Livorno.
The goalkeepers were the heroes when Cagliari visited Brescia at the Stadio Rigamonti. The Serie B side were awarded two penalties in the first half, but Antonio Chimenti saved from both Serafini and then Jadid 15 minutes later. The match went to extra time and, not to be outdone, Brescia shot-stopper Viviano parried a David Suazo spot-kick to keep the scoreline level. Chimenti was eventually beaten after 108 minutes by Serafini and Brescia go through to face Milan.
Serie A new boys Atalanta looked set for victory at Triestina with Carrozzieri’s early goal, but a red card proved costly. Summer signing Tissone was sent off on 87 minutes and deep into stoppages Kyriazis forced extra time. The dismissal made the difference, as Mattia Graffiedi and Eliakwu – plus Soncin’s last-gasp goal for the Orobici – gave Triestina an unexpected 3-2 victory that sets up a clash with Roma.
Bologna and Sampdoria have long shared a rivalry and the 3-2 away victory was a heated affair at the Stadio Dall’Ara. Francesco Flachi put Samp ahead within the opening 120 seconds, but ex-Juventus midfielder Ruben Olivera saw red before the half-hour mark and moments later Massimo Marazzina equalised with a header. Despite playing in 10 men, Sampdoria took a commanding 3-1 lead through a Flachi penalty and deflected Cristian Zenoni effort, holding on even after Mourad Meghni converted from the spot on 67 minutes. The 3-2 result sends Sampdoria through to the last 16, where they’ll take on Francesco Guidolin’s Palermo.
Genoa and Modena will be two of the toughest teams to beat in Serie B this season and were locked in a 1-1 draw at the final whistle. Nicola Campedelli had given the Canarini the lead, but Martins Adailton popped up with a crucial goal in the final minute and the Brazilian completed his brace in extra time. Greco put the final seal on the 3-1 victory at the Stadio Marassi and Juri Tamburini saw red for Modena. Genoa, who eliminated Fiorentina in the last round, continue their march and will take on Empoli next.
Crotone held local rivals Reggina to a 0-0 draw despite Gaetano De Rosa's red card on the hour mark. This tie also went all the way to decide a winner, when Alessandro Lucarelli’s header from a Leon corner kick hit the back of the net. The Amaranto book their appointment with Chievo.
The Last 16 round of matches will be played over two legs in November. The first legs will be played on 8 November, followed by the returns on 29 November and 6 December.
View all the Third Round results here >>>
View the Coppa Italia plan >>>
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