Goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia saved two penalties as Bologna knocked defending champions Inter Milan out of the Supercoppa Italiana following a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Bologna pulled off a stunning upset in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, defeating holders Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties following a -1 draw after extra time.
Despite Inter dominating large spells of the match and taking the lead, Bologna refused to capitulate, equalizing late to force the shootout.
The result ends Inter’s hopes of defending their trophy and sends the Rossoblu into a historic final, marking a major milestone for the club under their current management.
The hero of the night was Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia, who produced two magnificent saves during the shootout to deny the Nerazzurri.
Ravaglia’s composure under pressure proved to be the difference as Inter’s stars faltered from the spot. “I am just happy for the team and the fans; we believed until the end,” Ravaglia said after his match-winning performance.
His heroics ensured that Bologna capitalized on Inter’s uncharacteristic lack of clinical finishing throughout the 120 minutes of play.
Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi expressed bitter disappointment at his side’s exit, noting that they failed to kill the game off when they had the chance.
The defeat is a significant blow to the Italian giants, who were heavily favored to progress to the final in Saudi Arabia.
Reflecting on the missed opportunities and the penalty lottery, Inzaghi admitted, “It is a painful loss because we wanted this trophy, but we must congratulate Bologna for their spirit.”