Cremonese will play Roma in the region-finals of the Italian Cup after Serie A’s bottom facet battled to a stunning 5-four penalty shootout win over league leaders Napoli on Tuesday.
Felix Afena-Gyan struck the triumphing spot-kick underneath a torrential downpour in Naples to ship Cremonese through after the former Roma ahead had taken the fit to greater time with a past due looping header.
Napoli have been leading 2-1 with three mins remaining of ordinary time way to headers in three first-half of minutes from Juan Jesus and Giovanni Simeone after Charles Pickel gave the away side an 18th-minute lead.
But Cremonese fought again in opposition to an first of all 2d-string Napoli and Luciano Spalletti changed into compelled to bring about celebrity striker Victor Osimhen just after Leonardo Sernicola changed into sent off in a bid to win the tie.
The Nigeria forward drew a exceptional shop from Marco Carnesecchi late in the first half of of more time before Simeone smashed his rebound effort off the post and bar with an open purpose at his mercy.
But Cremonese, beneath new coach Davide Ballardini after Massimiliano Alvini was sacked on Sunday with the team winless after 18 league suits, held off a Napoli onslaught in soaking situations and held their nerve inside the shootout.
Ballardini’s group netted all five of their spot-kicks even as Stanislav Lobotka neglected his for Napoli, who go out the competition early.
Tuesday’s fit changed into also the primary time an all-woman on-pitch group of officials took price of a suit presenting Serie A golf equipment.
Referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, who was promoted to the top rung of Italian football’s suit officials within the summer time, become flanked via assistants Francesca Di Monte and Tiziana Trasciatti.
Ferrieri Caputi made history in October as the first girl to referee a Serie A fit whilst she officiated Sassuolo’s 5-zero thumping of Salernitana.Ten Hag’s facet extended their astonishing run with the aid of fighting lower back from a intention down to overcome arch rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United will move searching for 10 wins in a row in all competitions after they travel to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
With United just one factor behind 2nd-located City, a victory at Selhurst Park would make Sunday’s clash at leaders Arsenal even greater tremendous.
United’s wonderful revival beneath Ten Hag comes after they suffered lower back-to-returned defeats in opposition to Brighton and Brentford to start the season.
The former Ajax train has been overjoyed with the manner his players have regularly adapted to his demands because the season has long past on.
“The manner they transferred the plan (against City) in the sport, I suppose changed into great,” Ten Hag said.
“You see how they are in possession but additionally out of ownership – the urgent, how we defended the front 3 of Manchester City I suppose become virtually right.
“I believe them. They have been behind the plan absolutely a hundred in keeping with cent and they managed lengthy intervals of the game within the first half of.”
United have now not had to come from in the back of, as they did in opposition to City, very often recently.
They have handiest conceded 3 dreams of their remaining seven games and the Manchester derby changed into the handiest time in that period that they have trailed.
But they did erase a deficit to beat Aston Villa in the League Cup in November and were given a stoppage-time winner at Fulham 3 days later.