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AP, BOLOGNA, Italy
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Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century.
Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate.
Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack.
Bologna’s Thijs Dallinga, obscured, scores their second goal against Empoli at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna, Italy, on Thursday.
Photo: Reuters
Bologna won the first leg 3-0.
In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
Bologna last reached the Coppa final in 1973-1974, when they claimed their second title.
It is the fourth final for Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano in three seasons, having guided ACF Fiorentina to the past two UEFA Europa Conference League finals and the Coppa Italia final in 2022-2023.
The Coppa winner earns a spot in the UEFA Europa League, but Bologna are currently fourth in Serie A and on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for a second straight season.
Bologna last weekend beat Serie A leaders Inter 1-0.
