Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Gyasi played a crucial role as Empoli stunned Juventus in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure a historic place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Before this remarkable victory on Wednesday night, Empoli’s best performance in the competition was reaching the quarter-finals.
Gyasi, who started in the previous game against Atalanta, was brought on in the 73rd minute, replacing Jacopo Bacci, as Empoli pushed for a decisive moment in the match.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Youssef Maleh, the Italian-Moroccan forward, gave Empoli the lead. However, Khephren Thuram, the French midfielder, equalized after the break, forcing the game into penalties.
During the shootout, Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz missed their spot-kicks for Juventus, sealing their elimination from the competition after their earlier exit from the UEFA Champions League.
Empoli’s victory marks a historic moment as they advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia for the first time. They will now face Bologna in the next round.
Having joined Empoli from Spezia, Gyasi will be eager to continue their fairytale run and help the club reach the final of the prestigious competition.
