Juventus powered into the Italian Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 win over Frosinone.
The stand-out performance in the quarter-final came from Arkadiusz Milik, who grabbed his first hat-trick in the black and white stripes. The fourth goal was added just after the hour by Kenan Yildiz.
The Bianconeri earned their place in the last four against Lazio in April.
THE MATCH
Juventus looked in the mood from kick-off in Massimiliano Allegri’s 400th match in charge of the Bianconeri and the first ever cup tie against Frosinone did not remain goalless for long.
With just 10 minutes on the clock Fabio Miretti burst into the penalty area after a slick exchange at the edge of the box. The midfielder was tripped before he had the chance to shoot. The referee immediately awarded the penalty.
Arkadiusz Milik skipped up from the spot to send Michele Cerofolini the wrong way and become the sixth different name on the scoresheet for Juventus already in this season’s Italian Cup.
The number 14 would become the first to put his name on the scoresheet twice following a well-worked move that he started and finished.
The home side had come close to doubling their lead on 25 minutes after another Miretti burst into the area set up Filip Kostic. The winger’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Simone Romagnoli.
However, with seven minutes of the first half remaining Juve did score a second. Milik received possession on the half way line and picked out a perfectly weighted pass for Weston McKennie. The midfielder bided his time, with the help of some tricky footwork, before returning the pass to Milik, who brought the ball down on his chest and elegantly dispatched his shot under the advancing Cerofolini.
A minute later the visiting goalkeeper had to get down sharply to keep out a Tim Weah piledriver as Juve looked to go clear before the break.
The Bianconeri wasted no time seeking to extend their lead following the interval. On 47’ Cerofolini produced a reflex save to tip over a deflected McKennie shot from the height of the penalty spot.
Although the resulting corner came to nothing, Manuel Locatelli robbed the ball inside the visitors’ penalty area and unselfishly set up Milik for a simple tap-in to complete his hat-trick.
The Polish striker deftly flicked the ball into the net for what appeared to be his fourth on the night on 57’, but a VAR review adjudged Milik to have been in an offside position when the ball was played into the area.
The fourth goal was in the air though and four minutes later, Kenan Ylidiz volleyed home another tantalising invitation from McKennie.
Hans Nicolussi, with a shot deflected just over the bar, and Andrea Cambiaso, whose shot was parried by Cerofolini after a lung-bursting run, came close to adding to the tally as the substitutes looked to get in on the scene.
The final scoreline read 4-0, with Juve taking their total goals scored in two cup ties to double figures - as well as maintaining a clean sheet at the other end - exactly as Allegri had ordered on the night he joined an exclusive club.
JUVENTUS 4-0 FROSINONE (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: 10′, 38′, 48′ Milik, 61′ Yildiz
JUVENTUS: Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Weah (70′ Cambiaso), McKennie, Locatelli (62′ Nicolussi C.), MirettI (62′ Iling-Junior), Kostic; Milik (62′ Vlahovic 6), Yildiz (77′ Nonge). Subs not used: Szczęsny, Pinsoglio, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Hasa. Coach: Allegri.
FROSINONE: Cerofolini; Okoli, Romagnoli, Lusuardi; Lirola (77 Bonifazi), Brescianini, Mazzitelli (59′ Barrenechea), Garritano; Harroui (59′ Gelli), Kaio Jorge (77′ Cheddira), Ibrahimovic (46′ Soulè). Subs not used: Frattali, Turati, Caso, Reinier, Kvernadze, Bourabia, Ghedjemis. Coach: Di Francesco.
Referee: Sacchi
Bookings: 20′ Locatelli, 32′ Kostic,72′ Gatti