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NAPOLI, Aug 27 (SW) – Napoli ended Juventus’ hopes of progressing to the last sixteen of the Italian Cup when they beat them in a penalty shoot out.

The match was played in front of a crowd of 55 000 at the San Paolo Stadium.

The score at full time was 3 – 3.

Juventus took the lead in the 27th minute when Giorgio Chiellini headed in Balzaretti’s cross.

But Napoli hit back with goals from Cristian Bucchi and Emanuele Calaio to delight the passionate and partisan home crowd.

Juve coach Didier Deschamps brought on Alessandro Del Piero in an effort to get back into the match. The veteran Italian international curled in an equaliser off the post.

Del Piero put Juve ahead with just two minutes of extra-time left when he tucked home Balzaretti’s cross, but Paolo Cannavaro, younger brother of Italy's FIFA World Cup-winning captain Fabio, levelled the score for Napoli sixty seconds later with a spectacular overhead kick.

Federico Balzaretti missed the all-important spot-kick which saw Juventus bow out of the competition.

The two teams were title rivals in the 1986/7 season when Diego Maradona led Napoli to their first Serie A title, pipping Michel Platini's Juventus by three points.

But the two Italian giants are now residing in Serie B following Napoli's promotion from the third division last season and Juve's demotion from Serie A for rigging matches.

Napoli’s next match in the competition will be against Parma in the last sixteen.