Milan vs Bologna 0-1: Ndoye Seals Historic Coppa Italia Win | OneFootball

Fifty-one years. That’s how long Bologna had to wait to clear the dust from their trophy cabinet and make room for a new Coppa Italia, the third in their history, and the first since 1974. The Rossoblu prevailed over Milan in the final showdown at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night, courtesy of a lone goal from Dan Ndoye.

The 24-year-old Switzerland international, who was just coming back from an injury, found the right spot past Mike Maignan to win a place in Bologna’s pantheon, alongside the likes of Giacomo Bulgarelli and Giuseppe Savoldi.

But this win was also, truly, a Vincenzo Italiano product. Few would have expected that the former Fiorentina coach would lead the Felsinei to an even better season that last time around, when Thiago Motta sealed the fourth spot in the Serie A table and a Champions League ticket.

And yet, here they are, lifting the Coppa Italia trophy, and deservedly so. Bologna took the lead on 53 minutes, then cleverly contained Milan’s assaults, leaving the Rossoneri empty handed and frowning at a disappointing season that did not have an happy ending.

Sergio Conceicao’s stint at the helm of Milan will most likely come to an end. Little will the unexpected Supercoppa win and a seasonal winning record in the Derby di Milano help to save his job, now that he has failed to convert his only realistic chance to secure European football for the Rossoneri next season.

Ten Minutes of Fire

Seeing Roberto Baggio introduce the Coppa Italia trophy was worth the ticket price at the Stadio Olimpico, then the show kicked off. Milan had a scintillating start, as Rafael Leao immediately picked Alex Jimenez in the box, but the Real Madrid loanee was slow to react and fired the ball off target.

Bologna regained composure fast and called Maignan to action a couple minutes later. The French goalie punched back Santiago Castro’s header attempt from a free kick.

On ten minutes, Jimenez wreaked havoc in the Rossoblu box with a cross from the right side of the pitch, but Lukasz Skorupski saved his side twice, showing some great reflexes to first push back his teammate Sam Beukema’s clumsy deflection, and then Luka Jovic’s tap in attempt.

After the initial storm, the match cooled down, as tension mounted on both sides, the consequence of a couple of bad calls on referee Maurizio Mariani’s part.

Ndoye Sends Bologna to Heaven

The second half opened in a similar fashion, with Rafael Leao’s dash on the left side of the pitch that was ultimately neutralized by Jhon Lucumí. That was just a flash in the pan for Milan.

With 53 minutes on the clock, Bologna came up with a fantastic one-touch action, triggered by Remo Freuler. The Swiss picked Castro in the box, the Milan defense somehow managed to clear the ball, but it ended right on Ndoye’s feet and the 24-year-old  whipped it into the right corner of the Rossoneri‘s goal with a fine curl. That was how the Coppa Italia was won.

Milan’s reaction generated a couple of chances in the next few minutes, but nothing that Bologna would need to be too afraid of. Leao was picked with a long-range pass past the Rossoblu defense, but goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski was alert and managed to anticipate the Portuguese starlet.

Youssouf Fofana’s coast-to-coast was perhaps the best thing done by a Milan player in the second half. Too bad that Luka Jovic didn’t make much out of the Frenchman’s service.

Conceicao’s Changes Could Not Spoil Bologna’s Party

Sergio Conceicao made three substitutions, sending in Kyle Walker, Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix. The mercurial Portuguese had a good chance on his feet, but his shot was a perfect recap of his experience at Milan so far: inconclusive. Samuel Chukwueze and Tammy Abraham were eventually added to the mix, and yet Skorupski did not suffer any additional threat until full time.

Vincenzo Italiano’s masterpiece was thus completed. He took his time, but made the Rossoblu fans forget Thiago Motta.

Bologna had a slow start this term. They spent a few months in the bottom half of the table. As expected, they paid a harsh price to inexperience in Champions League football. But, little by little, Italiano shaped Bologna to his image, as the Rossoblu climbed back to the edge of the top four in the table.

Tonight’s win grant them the chance to compete in the Europa League, which might be a more affordable task for the ramping up Felsinei. After a string of lackluster seasons spent floating mid-table, this might just be the beginning for some fun times in Bologna.

The capital of the Emilia Romagna region is traditionally known as “Basket City” as it is home to two of the most famous basketball clubs in the Peninsula. After tonight, people in Italy and abroad will have one more reason to remember that there also is a pretty good football club in Bologna.

REFEREE: Mr. Mariani from ApriliaNOTES: