Lazio advance to the Coppa Italia final after a dramatic penalty shootout win, with goalkeeper Motta delivering a historic performance.
Lazio booked their place in the Coppa Italia final with a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Atalanta, following a 1-1 draw after extra time. The Biancocelesti will now face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on May 13, thanks largely to a sensational display from goalkeeper Marco Motta.
Atalanta started the match on the front foot, controlling possession and creating the better chances early on. However, they were repeatedly denied by Motta, who made several key saves to keep the score level. Despite their dominance, the hosts lacked precision in the final third.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Atalanta pushing forward. They thought they had taken the lead midway through the half when Ederson scored from close range, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to an earlier foul in the buildup, sparking protests from the home side.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute, but it was Lazio who struck first. From a corner delivered by Mattia Zaccagni, Alessio Romagnoli ghosted in at the far post and finished clinically to give the visitors the lead.
Atalanta responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Mario Pašalić equalized with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that took a slight deflection, wrong-footing Motta and sending the match into extra time.
During the additional 30 minutes, Atalanta continued to press and even found the net through Giacomo Raspadori, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside in the buildup. Neither side could find a winner, sending the semifinal to penalties.
That’s when Motta took center stage. After conceding the first penalty, the Lazio goalkeeper produced a remarkable sequence of saves, stopping four Atalanta attempts—including efforts from Scamacca, Zappacosta, Pašalić, and De Ketelaere—to secure a memorable victory.
Lazio’s resilience and Motta’s heroics proved decisive, sending them to the final in what has been a challenging season. For Atalanta, it’s a bitter elimination after a strong performance that ultimately lacked a clinical edge.
Match Report
Atalanta 1-1 Lazio (2-3 on penalties)
Scorers: Romagnoli 84’, Pašalić 86’
Penalty Shootout:
Atalanta – Raspadori (goal), Scamacca (saved), Zappacosta (saved), Pašalić (saved), De Ketelaere (saved)
Lazio – Nuno Tavares (saved), Cataldi (missed), Isaksen (goal), Taylor (goal)
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini (94’ Ahanor), Djimsiti, Kolašinac (71’ Kossounou); Zappacosta, De Roon (71’ Pašalić), Ederson, Bernasconi (56’ Bellanova); De Ketelaere, Zalewski (71’ Raspadori); Krstovic (90’ Scamacca).
Head Coach: Palladino
Lazio (4-3-3): Motta; Marušić (67’ Lazzari), Gila (77’ Provstgaard), Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Bašić (77’ Dele-Bashiru), Patric (84’ Cataldi), Taylor; Cancellieri (66’ Isaksen), Noslin, Zaccagni (103’ Pedro).
Head Coach: Sarri
Referee: Colombo
Yellow Cards: Kolašinac (Atalanta), Cancellieri (Lazio), Scamacca (Atalanta), Lazzari (Lazio)
Red Cards: None
