'I was starting to think that goal was cursed!' – Italiano revels in Bologna's shoot-out heroicsShareBologna beat Inter 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the Supercoppa Italiana final, with Napoli lying in wait on Monday.Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano quipped that he thought the goal was cursed before Ciro Immobile rifled home the decisive kick in Friday's penalty shoot-out win over Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana. Bologna, who won the Coppa Italia to end a 51-year major trophy drought last season, will face Napoli in the Supercoppa's showpiece match on Monday.They had to rally from 1-0 down to win their semi-final in Saudi Arabia, though, after Marcus Thuram acrobatically volleyed Serie A leaders Inter ahead after 72 seconds.A penalty from captain Riccardo Orsolini dragged the Rossoblu level before the end of the first half, and after goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia kept Inter at bay in the second period, they won a tense shoot-out 3-2.Five consecutive penalties were missed or saved after Lautaro Martinez and Lewis Ferguson converted the first two kicks, but then, with Bologna boasting a narrow advantage, Jonathan Rowe and Immobile both held their nerve from 12 yards.Immobile's powerful kick, which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar, sealed Bologna's first shoot-out win in any competition since December 13, 1995 – versus Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals."This is why we signed Ciro, to score penalties like that!" Italiano said, per Sport Mediaset."He came off the bench and was the fifth man up because he's so accustomed to these situations. I was starting to think that goal was cursed, with all the misses in a row!"In regulation time, Bologna edged the expected goals battle by 1.28 xG to 1.17, though Inter were clearly superior in the second half, amassing 0.73 xG to their opponents' 0.17.And Italiano felt a draw was fair after each team enjoyed one half in the ascendency."Starting with that handicap was not easy, but we kept our heads, we managed to equalise and I felt our first half was excellent overall," he added."Inter were better in the second half, but one half each means the draw was a fair result and then penalties are a lottery, so you need a bit of luck."Inter have now been eliminated on the last three occasions they have contested a penalty shoot-out, also losing to Lazio in the 2018-19 Coppa Italia quarter-finals and Atletico Madrid in the 2023-24 Champions League round of 16.Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu said: "Penalties are a lottery in my view – I admire the courage to raise your hand and say you'll take one."It is something you cannot practice, because the emotions of a match situation cannot be replicated. "I thought my team put in a great performance, especially in the second half. They had quality and intensity, which are the things I always want to see from my players."Friday's match was the first in the Supercoppa to end level after 90 minutes since the 2016 final between Juventus and Milan (1-1, Milan won on penalties), and the first semi-final to require a shoot-out since the competition's format was expanded in 2023.'I was starting to think that goal was cursed!' – Italiano revels in Bologna's shoot-out heroicsBologna beat Inter 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the Supercoppa Italiana final, with Napoli lying in wait on Monday.Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano quipped that he thought the goal was cursed before Ciro Immobile rifled home the decisive kick in Friday's penalty shoot-out win over Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana. Bologna, who won the Coppa Italia to end a 51-year major trophy drought last season, will face Napoli in the Supercoppa's showpiece match on Monday.They had to rally from 1-0 down to win their semi-final in Saudi Arabia, though, after Marcus Thuram acrobatically volleyed Serie A leaders Inter ahead after 72 seconds.A penalty from captain Riccardo Orsolini dragged the Rossoblu level before the end of the first half, and after goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia kept Inter at bay in the second period, they won a tense shoot-out 3-2.Five consecutive penalties were missed or saved after Lautaro Martinez and Lewis Ferguson converted the first two kicks, but then, with Bologna boasting a narrow advantage, Jonathan Rowe and Immobile both held their nerve from 12 yards.Immobile's powerful kick, which crashed in off the underside of the crossbar, sealed Bologna's first shoot-out win in any competition since December 13, 1995 – versus Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals."This is why we signed Ciro, to score penalties like that!" Italiano said, per Sport Mediaset."He came off the bench and was the fifth man up because he's so accustomed to these situations. I was starting to think that goal was cursed, with all the misses in a row!"In regulation time, Bologna edged the expected goals battle by 1.28 xG to 1.17, though Inter were clearly superior in the second half, amassing 0.73 xG to their opponents' 0.17.And Italiano felt a draw was fair after each team enjoyed one half in the ascendency."Starting with that handicap was not easy, but we kept our heads, we managed to equalise and I felt our first half was excellent overall," he added."Inter were better in the second half, but one half each means the draw was a fair result and then penalties are a lottery, so you need a bit of luck."Inter have now been eliminated on the last three occasions they have contested a penalty shoot-out, also losing to Lazio in the 2018-19 Coppa Italia quarter-finals and Atletico Madrid in the 2023-24 Champions League round of 16.Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu said: "Penalties are a lottery in my view – I admire the courage to raise your hand and say you'll take one."It is something you cannot practice, because the emotions of a match situation cannot be replicated. "I thought my team put in a great performance, especially in the second half. They had quality and intensity, which are the things I always want to see from my players."Friday's match was the first in the Supercoppa to end level after 90 minutes since the 2016 final between Juventus and Milan (1-1, Milan won on penalties), and the first semi-final to require a shoot-out since the competition's format was expanded in 2023.