The Group A Playoff Round 1 fixture of the 2023-2024 Serie C NOW league saw Atalanta U23s come from behind and impose themselves 3-1 over Trento at the Città di Caravaggio stadium courtesy of Cisse and Bonfanti’s first-half goals and Jimenez’s finisher in the second half.
In the next knockout tie, coach Modesto’s lads will host Legnago, who defeated Lumezzane 1-0 at home in the other Round 1 match.
It took the away side just six minutes to take the lead through Spalluto, but the Nerazzurri bounced back and equalised through Cisse on 14 minutes when the Guinean striker made the most of a deflected Jimenez cross to score with a powerful angled drive.
The Nerazzurri had a chance to double their lead on 25 minutes through Bonfanti, whose long-range shot went inches wide. Despite the visitors’ best efforts to regain the lead – Frosinini nodded over the bar, Trainotti was denied by Vismara on 31 minutes and Italeng and Trainotti combined – Atalanta replied through Gyabuaa, whose 39th-minute shot was charged down by Sangalli, and Palestra, who stung Russo’s gloves three minutes later after a give-and-go with Jimenez.
While Trento squandered a capital chance in the 44th minute with Cappelletti nodding the ball just wide, Atalanta didn’t miss their date with the goal through Bonfanti, who put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 2nd minute of added time with a magisterial header from a corner kick.
After livening up the second half with two unsuccessful attempts, the third time was the charm for Jimenez who, after gathering Mendicino’s pass and dribbling his way past two opponents, vanquished Russo with a powerful left-foot finish.
While Trento’s first response came in the 84th minute, when Vismara was forced to deny the visitors at the second attempt, the Nerazzurri had a chance to increase their lead again through Vlahović, who unfortunately shot wide in the 89th minute. As the final minutes and stoppage time passed peacefully, Atalanta sealed their passage to the next stage of the 2023/24 Serie C NOW play-offs.
ATALANTA UNDER-23S 3-1 TRENTO
Scorers: Spalluto 6 (T), Cisse 14 (A), Bonfanti 45+2 (A), Jimenez 82 (A)
Atalanta U23: Vismara, Palestra (Ghislandi 86), Berto, Bonfanti (Bernasconi 60), Gyabuaa, Capone (C) (Diao 86), Cisse (Vlahović 86), Comi, Jimenez, Ceresoli, Panada. Unused subs: Dajcar, Avogadri, Mendicino, Muhameti, Solcia, Masi, Regonesi, Falleni, De Nipoti. Coach: Francesco Modesto.
Trento: Russo, Trainati (C), Obaretin, Cappelletti, Spalluto (Satriano 58), Di Cosmo (Terrani 72), Giannotti (Puletto 58), Sangalli (Pasquato 46), Frosinone, Rada, Italeng (Caccavo 82). Unused subs: Pozzer, Di Giorgio, Ferri, Garcia, Vaglica, Brevi, Vitturini, Barison. Coach: Francesco Maldini.
Referee: Dario Di Francesco from Ostia Lido;
Assistant referees: Andrea Maria Masciale from Molfetta and Davide Rignanese from Rimini;
Fourth official: Eugenio Scarpa from Collegno;
V.A.R.: Marco Serra from Torino;
A.V.A.R.: Orlando Pagnotta from Nocera Inferiore.
Notes: Frosinini (T), Giannotti (T) Gyabuaa (A), Italeng (T), Jimenez (A) and Ceresoli (A) booked.
