In a game that is incredible, Napoli was sensationally eliminated from the Italian Cup by Cremonese.
Ballardini's team, despite the modest performance, managed to drag the match to penalties and to win it. The faults of Napoli are evident, but the result remains a real surprise.
Here is our analysis with all the highlights of the match.
Broad summary Napoli – Cremonese 2-3 after penalties
Below you will find our extensive analysis with the highlights of the Napoli – Cremonese match of the Italian Cup, which ended 2 to 3.
Naples – Cremonese 2-1: first half summary
The first part of the first half of the game seems quite calm: Napoli have possession of the ball without too many problems, but theirs actions seem decidedly too staid.
Despite the evident superiority of Napoli, the first chance to score is from Cremonese. To the 18rd minute, in fact, Okereke provides an excellent ball to Pickel, who pierces Meret.
Napoli immediately stood to attention and, after a daring action (later verified at the VAR), scored with a header from Jesus at the 33rd minute.
Not even five minutes later, al 36rd minute, Simeone, already protagonist of the previous action, receives the ball from Zerbin and inflates the Cremonese goal again with a header.
The first half ends with Napoli ahead.
Naples – Cremonese 2-2: summary of the second half
The first 15 minutes of the second half are full of yellow cards: Quagliata and Zerbin, in fact, are booked.
The game of Naples continues to be too staid and Spalletti tries to give his team a move by letting Zerbin out, Breakers and Gaetano and letting them enter Anguissa, politan e Lobotka.
Napoli continues to dominate from the point of view of ball possession, but it really is wasteful in attack. The Neapolitan team fails to build good deeds and seems to underestimate the opponent.
The Cremonese takes advantage of it, which at the87rd minute takes his second ever shot on goal and goes into the net with Afena-Gyan.
We go to extra time.
Naples – Cremonese 2-3: overtime and penalties
Extra time begins with the usual staid game and Spalletti tries to unblock the situation by letting in osimhen al 102rd minute in place of Ndombele.
Two minutes before, al 100rd minute, Cremonese were left with 10 men due to the expulsion of Sernicola for a bad foul which cost him a second yellow card.
Al 103rd minute, osimhen nearly scored, saved by Carnesecchi. A minute later, Simeone hit the left post.
Napoli are decidedly more incisive in the last 10 minutes of the match, but it's too late now: we go to the lottery of penalties.
I penalty shootout, However, they cost dearly to Naples. Lobotka, in fact, displaces the Cremonese goalkeeper, but touches the left post and the ball goes wide. Cremonese makes no mistakes and takes the game home.
The Neapolitans sinned of pride and lost what should have been the easiest match of the season.
