Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli, hidden, celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game against Spezia, during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
NAPLES, Italy (AP) - Defending champion Napoli scored four times in the first half to beat Spezia 4-2 on Thursday and reach the Italian Cup semifinals.
Gennaro Gattuso's side will face Atalanta in the two-legged semifinals. Atalanta beat Lazio 3-2 on Wednesday.
The other semifinal pits Juventus against Inter Milan.
Napoli took the lead with less than five minutes on the clock. Piotr Zieliński's effort was deflected onto the bar and the ball was then rolled across for Kalidou Koulibaly to score with a backheeled flick from close range.
Zieliński then set up goals for Hirving Lozano and Matteo Politano before Eljif Elmas capped an impressive first-half performance when he slotted in Lorenzo Insigne's cross five minutes from the break.
Spezia briefly threatened a comeback as Emmanuel Gyasi and Gennaro Acampora scored within three minutes of each other midway through the second half.
Diego Demme hit the post for Napoli late on.
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Napoli's Hirving Lozano celebrates after scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Napoli's Hirving Lozano in action during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Napoli's Matteo Politano, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Napoli's Eljif Elmas, right, scores his side's fourth goal of the game during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press
Napoli's Eljif Elmas, right, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal of the game during the Italian Cup, quarterfinal soccer match between Napoli and Spezia at the Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)
The Associated Press