Matchday 31 of the 2023-2024 Primavera 1 TIM “Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti” league saw Atalanta Primavera return to winning ways and claim three crucial points in their scramble to the top 3: thanks to their 3-1 away win claimed over Lazio at the Mirko Fersini stadium in Formello courtesy of Riccio, Vlahović (pictured on the cover) and Manzoni, coach Bosi’s lads have climbed to the 3rd place in the standings and 55 points overtaking none other than the Biancocelesti in the process.
On 17 minutes Pardel was called to action on Serra’s angled drive. The Nerazzurri took the lead in the 28th minute: after breaking lines on the right flank Ghezzi whipped a pinpoint cross into the box, with both Ricco and Ghezzi pouncing on the ball, in the end, it was the black-and-blue number 8 who emerged on top from the “friendly pile-up” and nodded the ball in to put Atalanta upfront. Coach Bosi’s lads doubled on 43 minutes with Vlahović who capitalized on Colombo’s through pass and cleaved it into the far top corner to score his 19th league goal.
The hosts opened the second half on the offensive with two back-to-back chances within a minute: first came Serra on 51 minutes who missed an open goal and then 60 seconds later Sardo, whose shot flew over the bar. Not long in coming, Atalanta’s retaliation first saw Colombo sting Magro’s gloves with a ranged shot 53 minutes in before getting vindicated on 55 minutes, when coach Bosi’s pressing eventually unleashed Manzoni, who scored the third of the game with a left-footed curler at the end of a great solo play. Bonanomi came off the bench and tested the Lazio goalkeeper, who deflected the effort for a corner in the 72nd minute. 80 minutes on the clock and it was the black-and-blue keeper Pardel who got called into question to deny D’Agostini’s effort with a hockey save. While Vlahović couldn’t edge past the opposing goal on 82 minutes, Zazza’s 83-minute effort got deflected out for a corner by Tavanti after skimming the bar. Lazio pulled one back in the 87th minute through Kone’s spin-shot. Well into injury time, the Nerazzurri got inches away from the fourth through Vavassori, who was eventually denied by Magro’s on-rushing save.
LAZIO 1-3 ATALANTA
Scorer: Riccio 28 (A), Vlahović 43 (A), Manzoni 55 (A), Kone 87 (L).
Lazio: Magro, Bordon, Milani, Sardo (Napolitano 59), Sana Fernandes, Di Tommaso (Bigotti 85), Dutu, Serra (D’Agonstini 59), Sulejmani (Kone 77), Zazza, Nazzaro (Cuzzarella 85). Bench: Bosi, Tredicine, Ferrari, Cappelli, Bordoni. Coach: Stefano Sanderra.
Atalanta: Pardel, Ghezzi, Manzoni (Cassa 87), Riccio (Bonanomi 69), Vlahović, Armstrong, Fiogbe (Vavassori 69), Guerini, Tavanti, Tornaghi, Colombo. Unused subs: Torriani, Obrić, Simonetto, Mensah, Camara, Jonsson, Orlando, Castiello. Bench: Giovanni Bosi.
Referee: Edoardo Gianquinto from Parma (assistant referees: Giuseppe Luca Lisi from Firenze and Federico Linari from Florence).
Notes: Guerini (A), Tornaghi (A) and Cassa (A) booked.
