Empoli carved their name in Italian football history Wednesday night with a historic victory over 15-time champion Juventus, advancing to their first-ever Coppa Italia semifinal after a penalty shootout thriller in Turin. The underdogs held their nerve after Khéphren Thuram’s spectacular equalizer forced extra time, ultimately triumphing 4-3 on penalties against the defending champions.
The match ignited when Youssef Maleh fired Empoli ahead in the 24th minute, unleashing a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner. Juventus struggled to respond until Thuram’s moment of magic in the 66th minute: the French forward bamboozled defender Liam Henderson with an audacious backheel turn before squeezing home from a near-impossible angle.
This result rewrites Empoli’s legacy,said one pitchside analyst. To outlast Juventus in their fortress under such pressure is extraordinary.
Key turning points included:
- 18-year-old Ismael Konate hitting the post for Empoli before halftime
- Dusan Vlahovic skying Juventus’ first penalty over the bar
- Kenan Yıldız’s decisive spot-kick being saved by Empoli’s keeper
The victory marks a stunning reversal for Empoli, who suffered a 4-1 league defeat to Juventus just three weeks prior. Their semifinal opponent Bologna awaits, fresh from ending their own 26-year Coppa Italia drought against Atalanta.
This Italian Cup semifinal breakthrough comes despite Empoli’s recent offensive struggles, having failed to score in three consecutive Serie A matches. Manager Aurelio Andreazzoli praised his team’s resilience: We wrote history tonight by believing in our system and exploiting every Juventus vulnerability.
With Inter Milan facing AC Milan in the other semifinal, this year’s tournament promises unprecedented drama as underdogs challenge Italy’s traditional powerhouses.
