Group A Matchday 4 of 2023/24 Serie C NOW saw Atalanta’s Under-23s coming off worst from the Mino Favini stadium in Meda, as the hosts imposed themselves 1-0 over Modesto’s lads thanks to an early goal.
As early as minute 3, Vismara performed the first save of the match, tipping Sorrentino’s free-kick over the bar. The hosts took the lead after only 8 minutes, courtesy of Mondonico’s header following a set-piece kick. Despite free-kicks being Renate’s weapons of choice for the night once again, in the 26th minute came Atalanta’s retort; with only a timely clearance from Renate’s defence eventually shielding Awua’s through cross to deny Italeng the goal. Two minutes later, Atalanta went one man down as Masi was shown the red card due to a last-man foul on Sorrentino (being it deemed a clear scoring opportunity by the referee). In the 34th, despite being outnumbered, the U23s got inches away from the equaliser as Di Serio’s longe-range shot skimmed the post. In the 43rd, Solcia is the man of the hour and deflects Garetto’s point-blank shot.
As a way to shake up the game, coach Modesto drew fresh forces from the bench; a right albeit unrewarded choice: one of the subs, Cortinovis, had a close brush with the equaliser in the 59th: after wreaking havoc on the left flank, Cortinovis crossed the ball in for Di Serio who opted for a back-heel finish, with Fallani flapping the striker’s attempt over the bar. In the 65th, Atalanta were once again inches away from leveling the match: with Cortinovis smacking the post after a one-two with Ceresoli on the left flank. Following Vismara’s punch on a long shot, De Nipoti went solo in the 83rd minute and, after dribbling his way past Renate’s defenders, shot with the ball flying slightly off the target. Despite Atalanta’s forcing in the closing minutes to score the equaliser and with a potential handball by Renate (not registered by the referee) hogging the spotlight in the extra time, the efforts from Modesto’s lads did not suffice: Renate clinched the three points.
RENATE 1-0 ATALANTA
Scorer: Mondonico 8 (R).
Renate: Fallani, Possenti, Esposito, Maletic (Bianchimano 74), Rolando (Tremolada 60), Baldassin (Gasperi 64), Mondonico, Auriletto, Bracaglia, Garetto (Procaccio 64), Sorrentino (Sartore 74). Unused subs: Ombra, Munaretti, Alcibiade, Nicolini, Amadio, Currarino, Bosisio. Coach: Massimo Pavanel.
Atalanta Under 23: Vismara, Palestra (Bernasconi 56), Bonfanti, Italeng (De Nipoti 71), Solcia, Di Serio, Ceresoli, Masi, Chiwisa (Cortinovis 56), Awua (Sidibe 79), Mallamo. Unused subs: Gelmi, Pardel, Del Lungo, Berto, Mendicino, Roaldsøy, Pagani, Colombo, Mora. Coach: Francesco Modesto.
Referee: Enrico Gemelli from Messina.
Assistant referees: Michele Fracchiolla from Bari and Giovanni Francesco Massari from Molfetta.
Fourth official: Andrea Terribile from Bassano del Grappa.
Notes: red cards were shown to Masi (A) in the 28th and Modesto (A) in the 79th; Solcia (A), Esposito (R), Rolando (R), Awua (A), Bianchimano (R) booked.
