Santiago Castro y Benjamín Domínguez left their names and surnames marked on fire in the history of Bologna. This Wednesday, in Rome, they were part of the deed of their season by winning the Italian Cup before him Milan (0-1), a tournament that I had not achieved for 51 years and that assures him a position in the next Europa League. The Italian Vincenzo team had the ex -Vélez Center as a starter and the end emerged in gymnastics and fencing silver in the substitute bank, without having minutes.
And he achieved it deservedly, with another great party that also allowed him to meet a double objective. Because after playing ‘Champions’ this season after 60 years without doing soBologna will walk his shirt again through the ‘Old Continent’ on the second step in Europe.
A double shortcut from the Polish goalkeeper Skorupski kept Bologna alive in the first half at the Olympic stadium in Rome. He saved the furniture with a reaction to the involuntary header of a partner in his own door and, immediately, reappeared with a Jovic’s significant stop, who did not have time to direct the shot aside, which facilitated his intervention.
And as soon as the second half start, the clairvoyance of Ndoye in the ‘Rossonera’ area in the 53rd minute, intelligent persecutor of a carambola that fell on one foot, allowed him to draw a great personal play. He threatened, wiped and defined stuck to the left post of Maignan’s arch. The goal of an entire city, held in style by the 30,000 ‘tifosi’ bolognese displaced for a unique occasion that ended with a happy ending.
A story that, on the other hand, is black again for Milan. There are already 22 years that do not raise this title. And actually that is the slightest of the ‘Rossoneras’ concerns. Because this was a unique opportunity that had won the team of Sergio Conceicao to make up a disastrous season.
Eighth in series A in the absence of two days for the end, their options to play in Europe went through winning this final. They beat their classic Inter in the semifinals and bet on this game.
The Conceicao team was felt with options. But Milan, again too gray, too predictable, too slow, could not take the Bologna from the deed of raising this trophy 51 years later. He was last league champion in 1964, twice the Cup (1970 and 1974) and stayed with the intertoto in 1998. And Europe will not play the next campaign, except Milagro. The Bologna will play again during the week. The brand new Cup champion deservedly won a position in the ‘Old Continent’.