Bologna certified for the semi-final of the for the primary time within the twenty first century after claiming a hard-fought 1-0 victory away towards Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta on Tuesday night, because of a objective off the bench from substitute Santiago Castro.
Charles De Ketelaere stung the palms of Lukasz Skorpuski six minutes in after an exquisite ball by means of from Ederson, however the Belgian may need been higher off squaring to the on-rushing Mateo Retegui on the again submit.
There was an enforced change after 36 minutes when Jens Odgaard went down clutching his hamstring. He had simply sprinted again into his personal space to attempt to cease Davide Zappacosta in his space, however felt a twang at the back of his thigh and was compelled off.
Italiano opted to introduce Benja Dominguez to exchange the injured Odgaard.
Tommaso Pobega tried to place Bologna forward simply earlier than the half-time interval, making an attempt a first-time effort from the sting of the world after a cut-back from Dan Ndoye, however his effort was effectively smothered by the Atalanta defence.
A treble substitution from Gasperini simply shy of the hour mark noticed come on for his Atalanta debut. He got here on alongside Juan Cuadrado and Lazar Samardzic, whereas Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pasalic and Mateo Retegui got here off.
Atalanta have been adamant that Bologna ought to have been lowered to 10 males within the 67th minute when Cuadrado hit the deck on his approach into the world. Emil Holm touched him on the again proper on the sting of the world, however the Rossoblu prevented each a sending off and a penalty.
There was one other Atalanta debutant when Stefan Posch got here on within the 72nd minute towards the membership who he left to affix La Dea on mortgage with an choice to purchase on Monday night.
Maldini had an excellent probability to internet on his Atalanta debut shortly after Posch was launched. Marco Brescianini had fed him by means of one-on-one on the sting of the world, however the eventual shot went straight at Skorupski.
Holm additionally had a strong effort saved by Rui Patricio on the different finish just some minutes after Maldini was denied.
The guests went forward with 10 minutes to undergo substitute Castro, who had solely come on a couple of minutes earlier to exchange Thijs Dallinga.
Charalampos Lykogiannis despatched a depraved free-kick supply in from a central place, the place Castro leaped, made contact and guided the ball previous Rui Patricio for 1-0.
There have been some barely unlucky scenes in damage time when Bologna have been doing their greatest to sluggish the sport down. Marten De Roon didn’t take kindly to Dan Ndoye standing in the way in which of his free-kick, so he pushed him over, picked up a yellow card and needed to be pushed away whereas a number of the gamers continued arguing.
That is the primary time that Bologna have made it to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia within the twenty first century, the final occasion coming in 1999.
The Rossoblu will go on to face the winner of the quarter-final involving Juventus and Empoli over two legs in April.
Castro 80′.
