JAKARTA - Napoli destroyed Spezia by a score of 4-0 to advance to the semifinals of the Italian Cup, in the quarter-final match which was played at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Naples, local Thursday or Friday morning WIB.
Kalidou Koulibaly's goal, which was created when the game entered the fifth minute, opened the Partenopei's lead. Before the first half was over, they then increased their lead through Hirving Lozano's goal in the 20th minute, Matteo Politano's goal in the 30th minute, and Eljif Elmas' goal in the 40th minute.
According to Antara, Spezia was only able to reduce the deficit in the second half through goals from Emmanuel Gyasi in the 70th minute and Gennaro Acampora's goal in the 73rd minute.
With this victory, Napoli will meet Atalanta in the semi-final which lasts two legs and is played on 3 and 10 February.
It took only five minutes for Napoli to break the deadlock. Piotr Zielinski's deflected strike bounces off the crossbar, Elseid Hysaj then sends the ball to Koulibaly to convert into the opening goal.
Spezia should have equalized moments later, but Kostas Manolas' effort on a slide meant Nahuel Estevez failed to pass Daniele Verde's pass.
Spezia goalkeeper Titas Krapikas was able to knock Mario Rui's lob over the bar, then Lozano doubled Napoli's lead when he broke an offside trap to control Zielinski's ball and slammed it into the top of the visitors' goal.
The third goal came in a similar process. Zielinski sent the ball to Matteo Politano, who ran towards Spezia's goal, to finish off the goal by beating goalkeeper Krapikas who moved forward to try to narrow the shooting space.
Insigne was involved in the making of the fourth goal, as he beat Adrian Ismajli in midfield, sprinted forward, and sent Elmas the ball well for the finish.
Dries Mertens was brought on in the second half, and Politano forced the goalkeeper to make a save. But it was clear that Napoli relaxed the pressure after taking a four-goal lead.
Acampora, who was a ball boy in Napoli as a child, moved quickly on the left, and sent a pass for Gyasi to catch which became a consolation goal.
Moments later, Acampora's shot from the edge of the box was deflected and beat goalkeeper David Ospina at the near post. Spezia is now chasing two goals.
After that Napoli again threatened with Diego Demme's kick which Krapikas could still deny. Spezia dominated possession in the final stages of the match, but they failed to narrow the gap.
The composition of players:
Napoli (4-3-3-: David OSpina, Kalidou Koulibaly, Elseid Hysaj, Mario Rui, Konstantinos Manolas, Eljif Elmas (Victor Osimhen 69 '), Diego Demme, Piotr Zielinski (Stanislav Lobotka 69'), Lorenzo Insigne, Matteo Politano (Giovanni Di Lorenzo 88 '), Hirving Lozano (Dries Mertens 46' (Tiemoue Bakayoko 88 ')
Coach: Gennaro Gattuso
Spezia (4-3-3): Titas Krapikas, Cristian Dell'Orco (Simone Bastoni 46 '), Claudio Terzi, Ardian Ismajili, Luca Vignali (Juan Manuel Ramos 74'), Gennaro Acampora, Matteo Ricci, Nahuel Estevez (Leo Sena 46 '), Daniele Verde, Andrey Galabinov (Kevin Agudelo 46'), Emmanuel Gyasi (Diego Farias 74 ')
Coach: Vincenzo Italiano
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