😅What a nail-biter: Napoli go through in Coppa Italia after 20 penalties | OneFootball

At the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples—packed, vibrant, and with all the anticipation of a head-to-head battle for qualification—SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio delivered a match worthy of a novel: a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, a penalty shootout, and a final victory for the home side by 9-8.

A fiercely contested match

From the start, a clash of styles was anticipated: Napoli looking to assert their superiority by dominating possession, while Cagliari arrived determined to defend with discipline and exploit any open spaces. 

In the closing minutes, both teams tried to avoid the penalty shootout, but defensive intensity and pressure prevented any further goals. Thus, the outcome would be decided from the spot.

Penalties decided everything

With nerves on edge, the shootout began intensely. In a succession of successful shots—and with just a couple of misses from Cagliari—Napoli prevailed 9-8. The decisive penalty sent the Neapolitan side through to the quarterfinals.

The shootout was an emotional rollercoaster: some players redeemed themselves, others felt the pressure. For Cagliari, their striker’s goal was a bittersweet consolation, but not enough. For Napoli, their composure in the final kicks allowed them to advance.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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