David Neres's first-half goal ignited Napoli's 2-0 victory over AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup semi-final held in Riyadh on Thursday. Rasmus Hojlund's strike in the second half sealed the win, propelling Napoli into the final.

The match, played at the King Saud University Stadium, one of the proposed venues for the 2034 World Cup, saw Napoli take control early. Eljif Elmas and David Neres tested Milan's defense, with Matteo Politano posing a threat on the right wing. Milan had a chance in the 16th minute, but Alexis Saelemaekers's shot hit the crossbar.

David Neres broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after a well-executed team play, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. Just before halftime, Hojlund nearly doubled the lead, but Milan's goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a crucial save.

Napoli continued their momentum into the second half, with Amir Rrahmani's powerful strike forcing another save from Maignan. In the 63rd minute, Rasmus Hojlund extended Napoli's lead, solidifying their place in the final. Despite substitutions, Milan couldn't find a response, and Napoli secured a 2-0 victory.

Napoli will now face the winner of the semi-final match between Bologna and Inter Milan in the final on Monday. They are aiming for their third Super Cup title, with their last win dating back to 2014.

The win in Saudi Arabia provided a boost for Napoli, who had lost 1-0 to Udinese in Serie A. They are currently third in the league, trailing Inter by two points and Milan by one. This edition marks the 38th Super Cup, which features the Serie A and Coppa Italia champions and runners-up, and is under contract to be held in Saudi Arabia until 2029.

Milan came close to scoring in the fifth minute when Ruben Loftus-Cheek's shot was saved by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Adrien Rabiot also had an opportunity in the 34th minute, but his effort went over the bar. Napoli capitalized on Milan's missed chances, with Hojlund setting up Neres for the first goal.