In Matchday 28 of the 2022-2023 Primavera 1 TIM “Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti” tournament, neither Vlahović’s brace (pictured in the cover photo) nor the overall budding performance showed against Milan sufficed, as the Rossoneri managed to turn the scoreboard around making it 3-2 in the final minutes.
After a rather balanced start, with Pardel’s great save on Traore countering Vlahović’s shot going wide, the away team took the lead 15 minutes into the match as El Hilali’s shot got deflected into the goal. The black-and-blue reaction was not long in coming: with, respectively, De Nipoti (inches away from the leveller on the 18th) and Roaldsøy (whose free-kick skimmed the crossbar in the 27th). Atalanta eventually found the equaliser 33 minutes into the game, as Vlahović slotted De Nipoti’s assist in at the end of a great team manoeuvre. In the 38th minute, the Nerazzurri managed to turn the match around, courtesy again of Vlahović, as the Serbian striker hammered Palestra’s pinpoint cross from the right into the goal with a header. In the 43rd De Nipoti went very close to the third goal with a powerful long-range shot-eventually deflected by Nava also aided by a rebound on the crossbar.
Milan eventually find the equalizer, a few minutes into the second half, namely in the 52nd minute, as Cuenca’s attempt after a corner kick gets deflected into the goal. After Stalmach fired high a chance shot from a coveted spot, Milan were again in with another chance to take the lead with Sia, eventually saving Palestra’s attempt in a last-ditch effort almost on the goal line. Just when it all seemed to be set on a draw, right in the 90th minute, there was instead a cold shower as Milan took the lead with Sia, putting a ricocheted loose ball into the net.
ATALANTA 2-3 MILAN
Scorers: El Hilali 15 (M), Vlahović 33, 38 (A), Cuenca 54 (M), Sia 90 (M)
Atalanta: Pardel, Roaldsøy, Chiwisa (Falleni 88), Muhameti (Riccio 81), Vlahović (Vavassori 81), De Nipoti, Palestra, Guerini, Colombo, Regonesi, Tornaghi (Del Lungo 69). Unused bench: Illipronti, Saleh, Omar, Stabile, Perez, Armstrong, Bevilacqua. Coach: Marco Fioretto.
Milan: Nava, Coubis, Simic, El Hilali (Alesi 87), Traore (Sia 46), Stalmach (Gala 61), Zeroli, Eletu, Cuenca (Longhi 75), Casali, Bartesaghi (Nsiala Makengo 46). Unused bench: Bartoccioni, Torriani, Foglio, Malaspina, D’Alessio, Paloschi. Coach: Ignazio Abate.
Referee: Michele Delrio from Reggio Emilia (assistants: Andrea Nasti from Napoli and Massimiliano Starnini from Viterbo).
Notes: Palestra (A), Stalmach (M), Bartesaghi (M) and Alesi (M) booked.
