Juventus players celebrate as Brazilian defender Danilo hoists the Italian Cup trophy aloft after beating Atalanta in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Wednesday.
ROME — Dusan Vlahovic shot Juventus to the Italian Cup with the only goal in Wednesday’s final against Atalanta, which was denied a first trophy in six decades.
Serbia forward Vlahovic’s fourth-minute strike was enough for Juve to claim the cup for the 15th time in a largely uninspiring final in Rome.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side had won just three matches since the end of January coming into the final, but frustrated Atalanta from the moment Vlahovic, who also had an effort disallowed for offside in the second half, netted the only goal of the game.
Wednesday’s win ended a three-year trophy drought for Juventus, Italy’s most successful and widely-supported club, which, in recent years, has been overshadowed by the Milan clubs and Napoli.
Poor performances this season have led to speculation that Allegri, who was shown a red card late on in the game, will be sacked in the summer, and he himself has hinted that his second spell as Juve coach is set to come to an end.
“If I’m gone next season, because I’ve already been sacked in the media, we’re in the Champions League and have won a trophy,” Allegri said to Mediaset.
“We’ve done everything we were supposed to do: Get into the Champions League and reach the final. The boys did really well to win it.”
Atalanta was fancied to win its first major honor since winning the cup in 1963 after a fabulous season for the traditionally provincial club.
However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team couldn’t find a way through a brilliantly organized Juventus defense, which stopped the attack-minded Atalanta from getting a single shot on target.
The closest Atalanta came to leveling was when Ademola Lookman thumped a shot off the base of the post with 10 minutes remaining.
Atalanta now turns its attention to securing Champions League soccer through Serie A and next week’s Europa League final.
The Bergamo club, which is fifth in Italy’s top flight, faces Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in its first ever European final.
“We were up against a good team who went in front straight way and defended very well. I don’t think we played badly. They didn’t do any more than we did,” Gasperini said.
Allegri sees red
With fans expecting the Atalanta show, Vlahovic put himself forward as chief party pooper when he rushed through to collect Andrea Cambiaso’s pass and smash home his 18th goal of the season.
Vlahovic has been profligate at times this season, but his emphatic finish allowed Allegri to play the game he loves best, packing the defense and rebuffing the opposition attack.
Very little happened in the first half after the goal, largely thanks to Juve’s insistence that should be the case.
Lookman went close with a deflected shot five minutes after the break, but it was Vlahovic who looked most like adding to the scoresheet in the 65th minute.
The 24-year-old was fed by Federico Chiesa and then skipped past two defenders, before his close-range finish was stopped by a combination of Marten de Roon and goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.
The match ended with under-pressure Allegri being sent to the stands, after he completely lost his head with referee Fabio Maresca when a foul on Danilo was not immediately given as Atalanta pushed for an equalizer.
Allegri was enraged to the point that he threw his jacket and tie to the floor, before ranting at pitch-side officials, as Juve directors tried to pull him away. However, he returned fully dressed to celebrate with the cup.
AFP
