As Matchday 37 of the Serie C NOW (Group A) saw Atalanta U23s bounce back from their previous setback with a budding 3-0 win over Pro Sesto in Caravaggio, coach Modesto’s lads claimed the whole prize in the last home match of the regular season.
Hitting the ground running as early as five minutes after kick-off, the Nerazzurri had the first chance of the game through Palestra, whose attempt to convert Bernasconi’s cross with a first-time volley got deflected out for a corner. On 15 minutes coach Modesto’s side took the lead through captain Capone, who cleaved the De Nipoti’s assist into the bottom corner with a pinpoint finish. Although Pro Sesto tried to react with a duplet of chances in close succession -in the 24th and 26th minutes respectively-, the visitors only managed to deliver two feeble and barren crosses. After Bagheria smothered De Nipoti’s ranged scorcher, it was then Diao who quelled the opposing resistance and doubled for the Nerazzurri’s on 33 minutes by crowning Atalanta’s counter with a powerful header on Ceresoli’s smooth cross from the left flank.
In the 51st minute, Capone had another go, this time smacking the post after being fed a clear-cut pass by De Nipoti, who ultimately tried to finish on the rebound. In the 57th minute, Berto’s undercut on the opposing striker proved decisive to foil Pro Sesto’s retort. On 64 minutes De Nipoti had his goal ruled out for offside. On the 84th Atalanta added another goal on the scoresheet with Cisse who, upon setting the counter into motion by playing on to Capone, closed the give-and-go with the black-and-blue captain and shot at a wide-open net to make it 3-0 and sow the game up.
ATALANTA UNDER-23s 3-0 Pro Sesto
Scorers: Capone 15 (A), Diao 33 (A), Cisse 85 (A).
Atalanta Under-23s: Vismara, Palestra (Ghislandi 62), Berto, Mendicino (Gyabuaa 62), Capone (C), Comi, Ceresoli (Solcia 80), Diao (Cisse 80), Bernasconi, Panada, De Nipoti (Jimenez 68). Bench: Dajcar, Avogadri, Muhameti, Varnier, Falleni, Chiwisa. Coach: Francesco Modesto.
Pro Sesto: Bagheria, Maurizii, Basili (Barranca 46), D’Alessio (Poggesi 56) , Palazzi (Fornito 73), Caverzasi, Bussaglia (Bahlouli 73), Toci, Toninelli (C) (Sala 46), Sereni, Giorgeschi. Bench: Formosa, Marianucci, Kristoffersen, Mapelli, Iotti, Florio, Bove, Bruschi. Coach: Daniele Angellotti.
Referee: Mauro Gangi from Enna;
Assistant referees: Vincenzo Russo from Nichelino and Thomas Storgato from Castelfranco Veneto;
Fourth official: Marco Schmid from Rovereto.
Notes: Toninelli (P), Fornito (P), Solcia (A) and Caverzasi (P) booked.
