EMPOLI, ITALY – APRIL 1: Thijs Dallinga of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates after scoring a goal during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between Empoli FC and FC Bologna at Stadio Carlo Castellani on April 1, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Bologna are on track for their first Coppa Italia Final in 51 years, dominating the first leg of this semi-final 3-0 in Empoli with Riccardo Orsolini and a Thijs Dallinga brace.
The Tuscans scraped only four draws in their last 15 Serie A rounds, but it was a very different story in the Coppa Italia, beating Torino before eliminating both Fiorentina and Juventus on penalties. Liam Henderson was suspended, with Youssef Maleh, Ardian Ismajli, Nicolas Haas, Szymon Zurkowski and Pietro Pellegri injured. The Rossoblu were fourth in the league, but Santiago Castro was on the treatment table.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Riccardo Orsolini’s angled drive flashed just wide after 85 seconds, but it was only a warning, as he opened the scoring on 23 minutes.
Jens Odgaard’s cross from the left saw two Empoli defenders both gravitate towards Thijs Dallinga, forgetting Orsolini was ready behind them to fire in on the half-volley. It was a particularly important goal with Italy coach Luciano Spalletti in the stands.
Soon after, Dan Ndoye’s inspired slide-rule pass split the defence, allowing Dallinga to take a touch and prod off the outside of the right boot into the far bottom corner from 10 yards. It was his first goal since January 21.
Lukasz Skorupski got down for a great fingertip save when Jacopo Fazzini flicked on the ball for a ferocious Ola Solbakken angled drive.
Empoli wasted a promising possibilità with the misplaced Junior Sambia pass for Emanuel Gyasi and moments later Bologna added a third instead, Dallinga sliding in to meet the Ndoye roll across from the left from six yards.
Gyasi had another golden opportunity, drilling across the face of goal under pressure from Davide Calabria, the defender getting a knock to the knee in the process and limping off.
Jacopo Seghetti got down to parry the Orsolini left-foot curler, then acrobatically pushed a Juan Miranda strike out from under the crossbar and on the resulting corner just about stopped the Dallinga header completely crossing the line.
It was nearly 4-0 in the final minute, as Niccolò Cambiaghi smashed his finish against the base of the near post from a tricky angle.
The second leg is at the Stadio Dall’Ara on April 24.
Empoli 0-3 Bologna
Orsolini 23 (B), Dallinga 29, 51 (B)
12
13
31
46′ 35
62′ 22
36
46′ 10
76′ 20
11
29
17
62′ 1
66′ 26
33
31
19
8
82′ 11
82′ 21
75′ 7
75′ 24
21
24
18
98
23
90
3
46′ 7
46′ 99
62′ 2
62′ 5
76′ 22
18
29
23
15
5
34
6
17
2
66′ 28
75′ 80
75′ 20
82′ 30
82′
Image:Getty
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