The Serbia striker, who scored a wonderful winner as the Bianconeri beat Cagliari at the weekend, missed chances to score during the clash on Wednesday.
When the match went to a decisive penalty shootout, the 25-year-old still couldn’t find the back of the net as he sent his spot-kick flying over the crossbar as the Bianconeri bowed out 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate.
Head coach Thiago Motta had kept his faith in Vlahovic, who was magnificent in his first Serie A start of 2025, to spearhead the attack with Kolo Muani in a supporting role.
Yet Motta saw his side booed off by Juve supporters at half-time and after the defeat, admitting in the post-match press conference that he was ashamed.
He fumed: “I feel completely responsible, I'm ashamed of what we saw on the pitch.
“It was a very important game for us and we got it completely wrong. We as a team have to do much better than we did in the first half.
“In the first half there was a complete lack of the required attitude, it means that I didn't convey to the boys what it means to play in a game like that in a Juventus shirt.
“You can misplace passes, you can miss shots. But you can't lack the correct attitude.”
The tweaked Turin team were unable to carve out many early scoring opportunities and must have been kicking themselves after conceding to relegation-threatened Empoli, who constantly counterattacked.
Youssef Maleh silenced the Allianz Stadium in Turin with his 24th-minute opener. The Morocco international, on loan from Lecce, rifled his long-range shot past ‘keeper Mattia Perin and into the bottom left corner.
The visitors came close to adding a second goal on the stroke of half-time. Shotstopper Devis Vasquez picked out Ismael Konate, who outmanoeuvred the Bianconeri two center-backs before his left-footer took a deflection and hit the post.
After Vlahovic and substitute Kenan Yildiz failed to level matters, it was left to Khephren Thuram for an equaliser on 66 minutes.
Set up by Muani, he skilfully got the better of Liam Henderson with a fabulous back-heeled flick before slamming home his effort from a tricky angle into the bottom left corner.
Motta’s underperforming troops were booed off the pitch at the interval, but returned with more fighting spirit.
Vlahovic fluffed a trio of second-half chances to give Juventus the lead. After directing his shot straight at Vasquez, he twice screwed the ball left of the gaping goalmouth.
Muani and Yildiz were also guilty of wasting chances, with the contest to be decided by the lottery of penalties.
Vlahovic was the first Juventus player to step up, only for him to guide his left-footer over the crossbar. Yildiz’s spot-kick, aimed to find the bottom right corner, was saved by Vasquez to send Juve crashing out of the competition.
Juve’s second cup exit in a week denied Motta the opportunity to win silverware in his maiden season at the helm.
Empoli earned their maiden Coppa Italia semi-final berth, and will tackle Bologna over two legs in April. The winner will face either AC Milan or Inter Milan in the final.
Motta only has the Serie A to concentrate on this term, and will need to rally his troops aftter yet another cup competition setback.