Matchday 35 of the Serie C NOW (Group A) saw Atalanta U23s qualify for the playoff stage with 3 games to spare after vanquishing Pro Patria 4-1 in Caravaggio thanks to Vlahović’s double and single goals from De Nipoti and Capone.
After having the first chance of the game on 16 minutes with Mendicino’s tricky cross-shot eventually tipped out for a corner by Rovida, Atalanta Under-23s unleashed the black-and-blue storm with 3 goals within just 10 minutes: first struck De Nipoti on 24 minutes slotting the ball in with a ferocious ranged drive, followed by Vlahović, who capitalized on Capone’s lob pass with a first-touch cynical finish 6 minutes earlier. Minutes 33 on the stopwatch and it was Capone who topped the U23s’ raging stint off by converting the penalty awarded to coach Modesto’s side after a foul on Vlahovicin the heart of the box. Although Parker pulled one back for Pro Patria following a corner kick, the first half closed with the Nerazzurri on top and 2 goals up.
As the Nerazzurri kept threading the lines throughout the second half, Atalanta widened the gap on 60 minutes through Vlahović who, in pure striker fashion, burst into the box, dribbled his way past an opposing defender and vanquished Rovida with an angled finish to bag his second of the night.
ATALANTA UNDER-23s 4-1 Pro Patria
Scorer(s): De Nipoti 24 (A); Vlahović 30, 60 (A); Capone pen 33 (A); Parker 39 (P).
Atalanta U23: Vismara, Palestra, Mendicino, Capone (C) (Cortinovis 64), Ghislandi (Berto 46), Vlahović (Cisse 79), Comi (Masi 64), Ceresoli, Bernasconi, Panada, De Nipoti (Diao 72). Unused bench: Dajcar, Bertini, Muhameti, Jimenez, Chiwisa. Coach: Francesco Modesto.
Pro Patria: Rovida, Vaghi, Moretti, Parker (Curatolo 77), Nicco (C) (Fietta 62), Pitou, Minelli, Ferri, Renault C., Somma (Renault 62), Castelli (Citterio 46). Unused bench: Mangano, Ndrecka, Bashi, Stanzani, Marano, Bertoni, Piran, Ghioldi. Coach: Riccardo Colombo.
Referee: Matteo Canci from Carrara;
Assistant referees: Giacomo Bianchi from Pistoia and Daniele Sbardella from Belluno;
Fourth official: Sabri Ismail from Rovereto.
Notes: Nicco (P) and Comi (A) booked.
