It was hot in Riyadh, but Giovanni Simeone was cool. The attacker waited for his chance to impress, and it came as soon as wantaway Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen left the squad to join his national team in Ivory Coast. The Argentinean goalscorer was on target against Fiorentina in Riyadh to help his team reach the Italian Supercup final.Jonathan Ikone missed a chance to draw Viola level from the penalty spot just before the break, and the team from Firenze ultimately paid the price as super-sub Alessio Zerbin scored twice in the space of two minutes to ensure a comfortable 3-0 success at the KSU Stadium.🇮🇹🏆 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Napoli are into the Coppa Italia final after beating Fiorentina 3-0! 🔵⚪️They will play Inter OR Lazio in 4 days time for the final. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/AQOEdbqJUP— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 18, 2024 Napoli, grappling with a dip in form in Serie A, embraced the opportunity presented by the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final as they sought to regain momentum. In a display of honest effort, Walter Mazzarri’s side broke the deadlock after 22 minutes when Simeone breached Fiorentina’s defensive line and unleashed a powerful shot past goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano. This marked a pivotal moment for Simeone, securing his first goal since November and his third of the season.The first half appeared poised to witness a swift response from Fiorentina when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ikone by Juan Jesus. However, Ikoné’s attempt from the spot turned disastrous as his shot sailed over the crossbar, leaving Napoli fortunate to maintain their lead.##NAJAVA_MECA_7805123##As the second half commenced, Napoli sought to capitalize on their advantage, with goalscorer Simeone coming close to doubling the lead. Fiorentina’s defence held firm this time, with Lucas Martínez Quarta executing a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Simeone a second goal. Fiorentina’s response after the missed penalty lacked intensity, and they struggled to test Napoli goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.Napoli sealed their progression to the final by finding the crucial second goal through Alessio Zerbin, who tapped in from a well-executed set piece. Zerbin wasted no time in securing a brace, confidently finishing from 18 yards shortly after that. The 3-0 victory underscored Napoli’s dominance, providing a much-needed boost and setting the stage for their appearance in the Super Cup final.
