Juventus wins 1-0 at Fiorentina in the first leg of the semi-final of the Italian Cup. After 90 minutes of pain, Allegri’s bianconeri find the goal at the end with Venuti’s own goal, who deflects a ball crossed by Cuadrado into his own goal.
Fiorentina try to win, close to scoring on more than one occasion, hit a post with Ikoné but in the end go to the mat. Juve stings little and struggles to trigger Vlahovic. The center-forward, formerly on duty welcomed as a ‘traitor’ by the purple fans, has only a couple of balls available and fails to take advantage of the best opportunity in the second half, when he fails to dose the lob and is hypnotized by Terracciano.
The first shot in the mirror is by Fiorentina with Saponara in the 7th minute but no problem for Perin. The viola press and carousel the ball and at 15 ‘Bonaventura intercepts an inaccurate pass from Perin: he immediately kicks towards the goal, with the ball high. Ikoné tries on 26 ‘, enters the area and goes to the shot from a tight angle but the ball comes out by a whisker. In the final of the first half left from long distance of Vlahovic dampened by Milenkovic and controlled by Terracciano.
At the beginning of the second half, the Italian team still touched the advantage: in the 48th minute Torreira launched for Ikoné. The Frenchman tames the ball, wins a contrast with De Sciglio and concludes with a sure shot but hits the outside post. Juve’s biggest chance arrives in the 56th minute: Vlahovic tames a throw from behind by De Sciglio and tries the lob on Terracciano who responds present and smanaccia in the corner.
Fiorentina continues to press encouraged by Franchi who whistles Vlahovic at every ball. At 58 ‘free kick by Biraghi on the goalkeeper’s post but Perin deflects the ball in a dive. Juve stings in the restart and at 78 ‘Vlahovic serves Cuadrado in the area, but from a tight angle kicks on the outside of the net. Fragmented final and with few ideas for the two teams but in the 91st minute on the last useful action Juve passes: a cross from the right by Cuadrado served by Rabiot, the ball hits Venuti and rolls into the net, amidst the desperation of the viola. Thus Juventus in extremis folds Fiorentina and wins the first round of the semi-final of the Italian Cup.