Rafael Benitez’s Napoli have won the 2014 Coppa Italia following a 3-1 win over Fiorentina at Rome’s Olympic Stadium in a match that was nearly called off due to rival fan violence outside the match venue hours before kick-off.
Three fans were reportedly injured by gunshots during the incident and the game was put off by 45 minutes while Napoli captain Marek Hamsik spoke with protesting Napoli fans.
When the match eventually started, two early goals from Lorenzo Insigne put the Sicilians ahead while Juan Manuel Vargas pulled one back for Fiorentina just before the half hour mark.
Fiorentina went on to dominate the rest of the match – more so after Napoli midfielder Gohkan Inler got sent off 10 minutes from time – and came close to an equalising late in the game.
However Josip Ilicic’s effort was saved by Pepe Reina and the resultant Napoli attack resulted in substitute Dries Mertens scoring in the 93rd minute to claim a second Coppa Italia triumoh for Napoli in three years.
Meanwhile in France, En Avant Guingamp won the Coupe de France, their second success in five years, after a 2-0 win over Rennes in the final played in Paris.
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