Bologna lifted the Italian Cup on Wednesday, edging AC Milan 1-0 in Rome to claim their first major trophy since 1974. Dan Ndoye scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute, sealing a historic victory for a club that hadn’t reached a major final in over five decades.
Under new head coach Vincenzo Italiano, Bologna have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. The win marks not only the club’s third domestic cup title but also Italiano’s first major honour as a coach, following three previous final defeats with Fiorentina including the 2023 Italian Cup.
The emotional scenes at the Stadio Olimpico saw Bologna fans in tears as they celebrated a moment many believed would never come. Italiano embraced his players at the final whistle, sharing in the triumph that rewrites the club’s modern history.
For AC Milan, it was a night of disappointment. The seven-time European champions last won the Italian Cup in 2003, the same year they lifted the Champions League trophy. Now, as rivals Inter Milan prepare for a Champions League final and chase back-to-back Serie A titles, Milan find themselves fighting for European qualification.
Currently eighth in Serie A, Sergio Conceição’s Milan trail Roma by three points ahead of a crucial league clash in the capital on Sunday.
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