Four-time defending champions Juventus on Wednesday crashed out of the Coppa Italia with a 3-0 quarter-final defeat by Atalanta BC, while AS Roma suffered a humiliating 7-1 thrashing at the hands of ACF Fiorentina.
Juventus had been bidding for a fifth consecutive Serie A and Coppa Italia double this season.
However, a Duvan Zapata brace after rightback Timothy Castagne’s opener put the side from Bergamo, Italy, through to a semi-final meeting with Fiorentina.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus earlier this month won their first trophy of the season in the Supercoppa Italiana.
However, they on Wednesday suffered their first defeat in a domestic competition this season, as they ride high and unbeaten in Serie A.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side had come from behind against SS Lazio in league action over the weekend, with Ronaldo snatching a 2-1 win in Rome.
The Portuguese superstar could not find a way through for a first Coppa Italia goal, with Juventus also hit by defender Giorgio Chiellini going off injured in the first half hour.
Castagne opened the scoring after 37 minutes, with Zapata grabbing another two minutes later, before adding a third four minutes from time for his 17th goal in 10 matches.
The Colombian ace also scored a double in a 2-2 draw when the sides last met in Serie A on Dec. 26 last year.
“It’s only human not to always be top. Now let’s put this behind us and think about the next Serie A match against Parma,” said Allegri, who was banished from the touchline for dissent. “I don’t know how many games the lads have won. In Rome we had a terrible first half, but we fought back. This evening everything went wrong.”
“It would have been crazy to think we could win every match. It hurts to go out, because we really wanted this trophy,” he said.
“Even the most optimistic fan could not have predicted this victory,” said coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the side from Bergamo target their second Coppa Italia title since 1963.
Earlier in Tuscany, Federico Chiesa scored a hat-trick as Fiorentina crushed a “shameful” Roma side.
Chiesa scored two early on, adding a third in the second half past overwhelmed Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, with Giovanni Simeone bagging a brace in the final 10 minutes.
Colombian Luis Muriel and Marco Benassi also found the net against a Roma side who were reeling after throwing away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Atalanta over the weekend in Serie A.
“I’m bitter, but I won’t quit,” Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco said. “I’m disappointed in the team, there are no excuses. I struggle to explain what happened, as it was a game we got wrong in every conceivable way. It was shameful.”
Di Francesco’s side had fought back after a difficult start to the season with four straight wins in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, and are now fifth in the league.
“The frustrating thing is it’s so inexplicable,” the Roma boss said. “Every time we think we are healed, we discover the illness is still there.”
Chiesa got the first goal after seven minutes a receiving a cross from leftback Cristiano Biraghi.
A Bryan Cristante header rattled the post before 21-year-old Chiesa lobbed in his second over Olsen just after 15 minutes.
Aleksandar Kolarov pulled one back for Roma after a half-hour, but Fiorentina were soon two goals ahead again through Muriel.
The Colombian set up Benassi after 66 minutes, with Simeone coming off the bench to pile more misery on Roma, who finished the game with 10 men after second-half substitute Edin Dzeko was sent off for a second yellow card.
“It’s the hardest day of my career,” Roma sporting director Monchi said. “I’ve never experienced anything quite like that and we can only apologize to all the Roma fans. I can only repeat sorry, sorry, sorry.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping