Fiorentina battled Atalanta last night in the return match of the Coppa Italia. Club's opponent in the semifinals of the Conference League won the outward match 1-0 at home, but went down in Bergamo in the absolute final: 4-1 was the final score. At Atalanta started with ex-Club player Charles De Ketelaere in the starting line-up.
The match could not have started better for Atalanta: after only eight minutes, Dutchman Teun Koopmeiners kicked the home team into the lead. The deficit from the home game was immediately erased that way. Even before the opening quarter was played, Atalanta climbed to a double lead. De Ketelaere served Scamacca who kicked the ball into the roof of the goal. However, after an intervention of the VAR, the goal was disallowed for a foul that happened earlier in the attack. Koopmeiners had another great chance, but Terracciano saved handsomely. Afterwards, the ball possession was for Fiorentina, but they failed to create chances.
The second half was only seven minutes away when Fiorentina had to continue with ten because of a red card for Nikola Milenkovic. He brought down the onrushing Scamacca. The ensuing free kick landed on the crossbar. It was Fiorentina that, against the run of play, equalized in minute 68: Belotti painted a free kick onto the head of Martinez Quarta. Fiorentina's joy, however, was short-lived. At the start of the closing quarter, De Ketelaere deposited a cross with the head. Scamacca kicked the leather beautifully with a volley against the nets. It seemed to be heading for extensions, but that was beyond Lookman. Scamacca crowned his match with an assist and Lookman popped the ball in low and overhead. It wasn't over yet: in the absolute close of extra time, Pasalic also managed to score. The assist this time was Lookman.
Atalanta will face Juventus in the final on May 15 at the Stadio Olimpico. Fiorentina, currently ninth in the standings, will take on Sassuolo in the league next Sunday at home.
Fiorentina: Terracciano, Biraghi, Ranieri, Milenkovic, Dodo (83' Kayode), Mandragora (83' Comuzzo), Bonaventura, Kouamé (83' Ikoné), Beltran (60' Duncan), Gonzalez, Belotti (55' Martinez)
Goals: 8' Koopmeiners (1-0), 68' Martinez (1-1), 75' Scamacca (2-1), 90+4' Lookman (3-1), 90+8 Pasalic (4-1)