Napoli’s Cup Destiny, Sealed

Three goals, one promise kept: Napoli defeated AC Milan 3-1 in the Italian Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with Rubén Montes turning the contest after the interval and Gianni Chessa delivering the final blow. Napoli are through to the final; for the southern side, destiny beckons, while Milan’s cup hopes ended in a night of betrayal after the break.

Our preview anticipated two 4-4-2 sides, a duel between Montes and Ander Sesma, and Napoli without Selçuk Yildiz. It also expected Montes and Rammy Karagula to be missing, but both played; Yildiz began on the bench. Milan’s expected shape was also 4-4-2, with Emiliano Amore taking Diego Maurício’s usual place. The decisive duel belonged to Montes, who scored once and assisted once.

Karagula opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Armin Cottignoli levelled from the penalty spot in the 31st, giving Milan a foothold. Then came the theatre: Montes put Napoli back in front in the 46th minute, and substitute Chessa struck in the 72nd to settle the score. Napoli controlled 67 per cent of possession and had 13 shots to Milan’s eight, but the measure that matters in a cup tie is the score.

The sides had drawn 2-2 in January, and this meeting again threatened to become a tense argument between old rivals. Instead, Napoli found the answer after the interval. Montes, named player of the match, was the pulse of the victory; Chessa, introduced in the 61st minute, made his entrance count.

For Napoli, the final is now the prize of a night when the preview’s questions were answered on the pitch. Milan leave with Cottignoli’s penalty as a brief act of defiance, and no way back.