Destiny in Double: Reginaldo Delivers Napoli’s Cup Triumph

Could Napoli’s promise of Italian Cup destiny survive the final’s sharpest betrayal? It could—and Reginaldo made certain of it. His brace gave Napoli a 2-1 victory over S.S. Lazio on Wednesday, 14 May, and the cup was theirs after a final that swung, briefly and cruelly, against them.

Napoli struck first when Reginaldo scored in the 44th minute, just before the interval. Lazio answered through substitute Amine El Amrani in the 56th, after coming on seven minutes earlier. The equaliser put the pressure back on Napoli, but Reginaldo took it away again from the penalty spot in the 67th minute. Two goals, one final, one name at the heart of the opera: he was named player of the match.

Our preview expected Napoli’s familiar 4-4-2 to face Lazio’s 4-2-3-1, and pointed to the wide duels and the absences of Matteo Poziello and Mattia Pirrone. Poziello did play for Napoli; Pirrone was not in Lazio’s starting side. The shapes were as anticipated, but Reginaldo supplied the decisive contribution, while El Amrani came off the bench to score before going off injured in the 78th minute.

Napoli had the greater share of the ball and more attempts, yet the final was no procession: Lazio found their equaliser, and the margin stayed narrow. Reginaldo’s penalty settled it. The old preview spoke of destiny; three days ago, Napoli gave that word a scoreline. For the south, and for a club that has made this cup its own triumph, the night ended in song.