Bologna easily defeated Empoli 3-0 on Tuesday, giving jubilant supporters optimism for their first major title in more than 50 years, and now have a foot in the Italian Cup final. Thijs Dallinga scored goals in either half to give Bologna a significant first-leg advantage in the final four match after in-form Riccardo Orsolini opened the scoring with a clever first-time strike in the 23rd minute.
For Bologna, which is trying to make it to the final for the first time since winning its second Italian Cup in 1974, Riccardo Orsolini opened the scoring before Dutch center forward Thijs Dallinga added two more.
In the other semifinal, AC Milan and Inter Milan will play a derby on Wednesday. The return legs are set for April 23–24.
Orsolini, who had scored in Bologna’s previous two Serie A games, headed in a cross from Jens Odgaard to give Bologna the lead in the twenty-third minute.
Dallinga took a feed from Dan Ndoye and, six minutes later, slid between two defenders to double the lead with the outside of his left foot. When Dallinga completed a counterattack following the interval, Ndoye once more assisted.
Bologna’s winning run now stands at six games in all competitions.
Even though Bologna is in fourth place in Serie A and on track to earn a Champions League berth for the second consecutive season, the Italian Cup winner is awarded a Europa League spot.
Empoli, now in third place in the league and facing relegation, advanced to the semifinals for the first time after defeating Juventus in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
