Bologna edges Inter on penalties to reach final
Bologna will face Napoli in the Italian Super Cup final after overcoming Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time on Saturday (AEDT).
The penalty shootout featured several missed attempts before Ciro Immobile converted to send Bologna into the final.
Bologna takes on Napoli on Tuesday (AEDT) after the Italian champion secured a 2-0 victory over AC Milan on Friday (AEDT).
Inter struck early on at King Saud University Stadium, as Alessandro Bastoni swung in a cross to the back post in the second minute where Marcus Thuram arrived at full stretch to fire into the net.
However, despite Inter's dominance, Bologna was awarded a penalty in the 35th minute after a handball from defender Yann Bisseck. Forward Riccardo Orsolini made no mistake from the spot to bring the teams back on level terms.
Inter thought it had a penalty of its own shortly before the hour mark because of a foul, only for a video assistant referee (VAR) review to overturn the decision.
Despite chances at both ends, neither side could find a winner, sending the match straight to a penalty shootout, where Immobile proved decisive.
Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano quipped that he thought the goal was cursed before Immobile rifled home the decisive penalty.
"This is why we signed Ciro, to score penalties like that," Italiano said.
"He came off the bench and was the fifth man up because he's so accustomed to these situations. I was starting to think that goal was cursed, with all the misses in a row!"
Italiano felt a draw was fair after each team enjoyed one half in the ascendency before the shootout.
"Starting with that handicap was not easy, but we kept our heads, we managed to equalise and I felt our first half was excellent overall," he added.
"Inter were better in the second half, but one half each means the draw was a fair result and then penalties are a lottery, so you need a bit of luck."
Inter has now been eliminated on the last three occasions it has contested a penalty shootout, also losing to Lazio in the 2018-2019 Coppa Italia quarter-finals and Atletico Madrid in the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu said: "Penalties are a lottery in my view – I admire the courage to raise your hand and say you'll take one.
"It is something you cannot practice, because the emotions of a match situation cannot be replicated.
"I thought my team put in a great performance, especially in the second half. They had quality and intensity, which are the things I always want to see from my players."
