Coppa italia | Juventus 1-1 Empoli: Holders crash out on penalties to historic minnows

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus misses the team’s first penalty in the penalty shoot out during the Coppa Italia Quarter Final match between Juventus FC and Empoli FC at Allianz Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Empoli knocked holders Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties with Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz errors, despite a sensational Khephren Thuram goal for the 1-1 draw, reaching their first ever semi-final.

Instead, it is Empoli who will face Bologna in the two-legged semi-final, while Inter vs. Milan is the other showdown.

The Bianconeri continued the defence of the trophy won last season by facing Empoli without Douglas Luiz, Renato Veiga, Pierre Kalulu, Niccolò Savona, Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, but for the first time using their two star strikers together from the start. The Tuscans lost four on the bounce in Serie A, including a 4-1 defeat here on February 2, and the absentee list included Tino Anjorin, Ardian Ismajli, Jacopo Fazzini, Mattia Viti, Ola Solbakken, Nicolas Haas, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Pietro Pellegri.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Nico Gonzalez should’ve opened the scoring after 90 seconds, but ballooned over after a Kolo Muani knock-down.

However, there was a shock when Empoli took the lead as Nico Gonzalez gave the ball away and Youssef Maleh hit a scorcher into the far bottom corner with his weaker right foot from outside the area.

Empoli lead against Juventus

What a strike by Youssef Maleh to give his side a shock lead in the Coppa Italia pic.twitter.com/4TC3ESjCDc

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 26, 2025

Juve struggled to create any chances, as instead Maleh went through the middle on Liam Henderson’s pass and laid it off for Ibrahim Konate, the 18-year-old’s angled drive too weak to trouble Mattia Perin.

Empoli really should’ve gone 2-0 up with the last kick of the half, as Konate sprung the offside trap on a long ball over the top and beat Perin, but the finish bounced off the inside of the upright and back out.

The second half started in a similar vein, as within 20 seconds Maleh’s powerful strike with his preferred left boot from distance was palmed round the upright by Perin.

Dusan Vlahovic’s free kick had bent over the wall and was dipping into the far top corner until pushed away by the Devis Vasquez save.

With a shortage of defenders, Thiago Motta introduced Manuel Locatelli as a centre-back, but Andrea Cambiaso stumbled to send Junior Sambia clear and Perin had to palm that finish over the bar.

Juventus were woken up by a sensational bit of skill from Khephren Thuram, who twisted Liam Henderson inside out at the by-line with a back-heel flick to send the ball behind the player while he ran in front, then beat Vasquez from the tightest of angles.

Khéphren Thuram, that is FILTHY!

Mind-blowing piece of skill by the Juventus midfielder before scoring an equaliser pic.twitter.com/BMZ9OIXG3f

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 26, 2025

Vlahovic’s header was straight at Vasquez, along with the Sebastiano Esposito strike at the other end, while Kenan Yildiz drilled wide.

Alberto Costa made his Juventus debut for the final seven minutes, but there were chances at both ends, Christian Kouame and then Vlahovic getting the finish all wrong after good build-up.

Vasquez rushed off his line to smother at Vlahovic’s feet following a heavy touch and Kenan Yildiz fired over on the bounce in stoppages from a corner.

The teams could not be divided, so went straight to a penalty shoot-out, which is how Empoli already eliminated Fiorentina in the Round of 16.

Vlahovic stepped up first and ballooned it over the crossbar, followed by successful conversions until Vasquez got down to palm the Kenan Yildiz effort round the near bottom corner.

Oh no, Dušan Vlahović

Terrible attempt by the Juventus forward in this penalty shootout against Empoli pic.twitter.com/4YVwqRPMPv

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 26, 2025

Luca Marianucci kept his cool to convert and complete the clean sweep of Empoli penalties, knocking holders Juventus out of the Coppa Italia.

Empoli have knocked out Juventus!

Luca Marianucci converts and sends his side through to the Coppa Italia Semi-Finals pic.twitter.com/zJazzOq8cX

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 26, 2025

Juventus 1-1 Empoli

Maleh 24 (E), K Thuram 66 (J)

Penalty shoot-out

Vlahovic (J, miss), Henderson (E, goal), Kolo Muani (J, goal), Kouame (E, goal), Locatelli (J, goal), Cacace (E, goal), Kenan Yildiz (J, saved), Marianucci (E, goal)

1

27

84′

4

6

54′

19

8

54′

16

9

11

60′

20

22

23

34

46′

7

13

31

61′

35

36

73′

6

93

90

60′

29

60′

23

29

48

40

51

17

41

5

54′

10

54′

7

60′

2

84′

5

22

20

98

12

37

89

41

2

46′

99

60′

18

60′

3

61′

11

73′