Napoli has scored two goals in the final half hour to clinch its first piece of silverware since the Diego Maradona era after a 2-0 Coppa Italia final over Juventus on Sunday.
Edinson Cavani struck a 63rd-minute penalty, before Marek Hamsik added a second 20 minutes later to help Walter Mazzarri’s side clinch their first trophy since 1990.
The result denied Juventus a dream double after their Scudetto triumph, as well as Alessandro Del Pirlo a perfect farewell.
“It seemed unthinkable to beat Juve,” Mazzarri told reporters. “They hadn’t ever lost this season (in Serie A) and to beat them 2-0 was magnificent work.
“The team has done something extraordinary in the last three years: Cavani, (Ezequiel) Lavezzi, Hamsik are on everyone’s lips, but it’s an entire team that should be acclaimed as one.
“This was the 51st game of the season. Anyone who plays football knows that playing these games at that level is hard. We have paid in the championship for this. You can lose to anyone in our league, and we dropped too many points.”
Napoli has had a tough period in its existence since its last trophy, dropping down the divisions before recently reviving their status. Owner Aurelio Di Laurentiis said the triumph was a sign this club could return to its former glory.
“This was a club that didn’t exist,” said De Laurentiis. “In a few years we’ve brought something home, above all the knowledge that Napoli exists, lives and can be the world champion of the sport.”