Lazio advanced to the Coppa Italia final after a penalty shoot-out victory over Atalanta, following a 1-1 draw in regulation. Edoardo Motta was the standout performer, securing the win for Lazio.
Key points
Lazio advanced to the Coppa Italia final
Match ended 1-1 after extra time
Edoardo Motta was the shoot-out hero
First leg ended in a 2-2 draw
LazioAtalantaEdoardo Motta
Atalanta 1-1 Lazio: Motta’s Shoot-out Heroics Send Aquile to Coppa Italia Final
Atalanta 1-1 Lazio: Motta’s Shoot-out Heroics Send Aquile to Coppa Italia Final
Lazio have punched their ticket to the Coppa Italia final after prevailing over their hosts Atalanta in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
The two sides had settled for a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Rome, but this time, there had to be a winner. The rivals couldn’t be separated after another 90 minutes in Bergamo, with the scoreline showing 1-1, while the extra time ended goalless. Therefore, the contest had to be decided by spot-kicks, and Edoardo Motta emerged as the ultimate hero.
On the other hand, Maurizio Sarri opted for his usual 4-3-3 system, with the in-form leading the line, flanked by and . In midfield, started between and Toma Basic, while Adam Marusic made his return from injury, joining , , and at the back.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Atalanta vs Lazio match?
The final score was 1-1 after extra time, leading to a penalty shoot-out.
Who was the hero for Lazio in the penalty shoot-out against Atalanta?
Edoardo Motta was the hero for Lazio, helping secure their victory in the shoot-out.
How did Lazio perform in the first leg against Atalanta?
In the first leg, Lazio and Atalanta played to a 2-2 draw.
When is the Coppa Italia final scheduled?
The specific date for the Coppa Italia final has not been mentioned in the provided content.
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The first 45 minutes proved to be a timid affair, with both sides approaching the game with extra caution. Nevertheless, Atalanta held possession for the vast majority of the first, and they were able to threaten on a few occasions.
Luckily for the visitors, they were able to rely on the robust Gila to save the day. Krstovic was put through with a sublime vertical cross, but the Spanish defender was able to produce a perfectly-timed intervention to clear the danger.
Later in the first half, a cross from the left side was brought down to Zalewski, who aimed at goal from close range, but Gila appeared out of nowhere to block the shot with his body.
On the other hand, Lazio’s best chance in the first half ensued in the 27th minute, when Cancellieri picked up a loose ball and ran towards the box, but his telegraphed shot was comfortably blocked by the backline.
Lazio Saved by VAR
After the break, Atalanta came close to scoring when Patric lost possession in a dangerous area. De Ketelaere fed Krstovic with a through ball, but Edoardo Motta was able to punch it out.
Afterwards, Motta tried to gather the ball following an awkward clearance from Gila, but Krstovic took it from underneath him, allowing Ederson to score from a tap-in. However, the VAR intervened, summoning the match official for an on-field review. The referee decided that the Atalanta striker had indeed fouled the Lazio goalkeeper, so he decided to rule out the goal.
In the 84th minute, Lazio broke the deadlock from a corner kick delivered by Mattia Zaccagni. Romagnoli was able to ward off Berat Djimsiti to put his foot through it and find the bottom corner.
Sadly for the Biancocelesti, their celebration was short-lived, as Mario Pasalic almost immediately responded after being set up by Krstovic. The Croatian midfielder sent a low drive between a sea of legs, and his attempt appeared to be heading off target, a slight deflection off Taylor was enough to redirect it goalwards.
Shortly following his introduction, Gianluca Scamacca almost won it for the hosts with a header deep in added time, but Motta was able to pull off a fingertip save which proved just enough to direct the ball towards the post, thus forcing extra time.
Another Atalanta Goal Rule Out in Extra Time
The extra time was a largely uneventful affair, although Atalanta thought they had scored in the 96th minute through Giocamo Raspadori, but VAR ruled it out for an offside on Zappacosta. Romagnoli almost won it in the final minutes, but he couldn’t connect with Tavares’ free-kick, so the contest headed to penalty shout-outs.
Edoardo Motta Saves Four Penalties
Raspadori scored the opening spot-kick for Atalanta, but Motta retaliated by stopping the next four in an astonishing showing. His save on De Ketelaere proved sufficient, as Gustav Isaksen and Taylor had scored for Lazio following Tavares and Danilo Cataldi’s misses.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper thus booked the Biancocelesti’s place in the grand final against InterMilan, keeping the club’s European hopes alive and kicking.
