With the 3-1 setback suffered against Cagliari, MD29 of the 2023-2024 of the 2023-2024 Primavera 1 TIM “Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti” league saw Atalanta Primavera’s streak of four consecutive wins come to its end in Assemini.
While the hosts pushed hard in the opening quarter as they first forced Pardel to thrust Bolzan’s bicycle kick over the crossbar with a remarkable save on 15 minutes before having another go only five minutes later through Idrissi, whose lob hissed only inches high past the black-and-blue keeper; not only was Atalanta’s retaliation not long in coming, but the Nerazzurri saw their efforts rewarded at the second attempt: as a matter of fact, after Manzoni’s on-turn shot on 22 minutes got deflected out by Iliev, coach Bosi’s lads broke the deadlock in the follow-up corner kick as Fiogbe slotted in Obric’s back-heel flick. After the black-and-blue lead the home side threatened twice in close succession, when Carboni and Sulev’s shots flew wide to the side. The Nerazzurri closed the first half on the offensive as Riccio’s free-kick attempt in the third minute of added time stung Iliev’s gloves.
The second half saw Cagliari find a 48-minutes equaliser through a point-blank tap-in by Konate. The Nerazzurri had the chance to get back on top in the 57th minute when Castiello, being awarded a penalty, saw his efforts negated twice by the opposing keeper, who smothered the spot-kick first before eventually blocking the following shot on the rebound. Atalanta threatened the home side again on 76 minutes, forcing Iliev to barely flap Bonanomi’s free-kick attempt from a very tight angle over the bar. Only 2 minutes later, the Nerazzurri had another go with Camara, who saw his finish after a give-and-go with Cassa thwarted by Iliev. The hosts took the lead on 80 minutes thanks to a solo play by Amos Marini, scoring mere moments after his entry on the field. 86 minutes on the stopwatch and, upon finding the right opening in the box, Fiogbe saw his attempt finish wide off target. The hosts eventually found their scoring ways well deep into added time as Malfitano made it 3-1 on 95 minutes.
CAGLIARI 3-1 ATALANTA
Scorer(s): Fiogbe 22 (A), Konate 48 (C), Amos Marini 80 (C), Malfitano 95 (C).
Cagliari: Iliev, Arba, Idrissi (Amos Marini 79), Carboni (Malfitano 63), Sulev (Simonetta 63), Cogoni, Balde, Bolzan (Achour 63), Catena (Franke 41), Konate, Marcolini. Unused subs: Renna, Wodzicki, Conti, Pintus, Pierangeli, Trepy. Coach: Fabio Pisacane.
Atalanta: Pardel, Obrić, Ghezzi (Bonanomi 63), Manzoni (Capac 82), Riccio (Camara 76), Armstrong, Fiogbe, Tavanti, Tornaghi, Castiello (Cassa 63), Colombo. Unused subs: Sala, Zanchi, Simonetto, Mensah, Jonsson, Martinelli, Ramaj. Coach: Giovanni Bosi.
Referee: Francesco Burlando from Genova (assistant referees: Matteo Pressato from Latina and Franck Loic Nana Tchato from Aprilia).
Notes: on 57 minutes Castiello (A) saw his attempt from the penalty spot denied by Iliev (C), Marcolini (C), Sulev (C), Ghezzi (A), Franke (C), Tavanti (A) booked.
