After defeating Fiorentina 2-1 at AC Milan on Wednesday, Atalanta advanced to the Italian Cup semifinals, while Lazio defeated Roma 1-0 in a ferocious rivalry that resulted in three bookings.
Teun Koopmeiners scored goals each side of halftime in the quarterfinal round to keep Atalanta’s hopes of winning the tournament alive for the first time since 1963 alive.
After rallying from behind to win in the San Siro, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team was worth their victory.
After some exquisite passing between Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, the Portuguese winger scored a stunning first-time goal to put Milan ahead in the 45th minute.
Marten de Roon was about to head home Charles De Ketelaere’s knockdown when Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders pushed him, just moments before Gasperini had been sent off for his furious response over his side not being awarded a penalty.
On the other hand, De Roon and Matteo Gabbia collided so violently that both had to leave the field.
However, Atalanta responded quickly after Leao’s first goal when Koopmeiners stroked home a fantastic strike just before halftime, rather than lamenting their bad luck.
And when Alex Jimenez pulled down Aleksei Miranchuk, it was Koopmeiners, a midfielder for the Netherlands, who scored what proved to be the game-winning penalty just before the hour mark.
Milan was the ones who felt cheated this time around as Jiminez seemed to clip the ball before making contact with Miranchuk, but they were unable to reverse the outcome.
Lazio’s joy at the Derby
Five minutes into the half in Rome, a penalty kick by Mattia Zaccagni set up a matchup with either Juventus or Frosinone in the round of four, which takes place on Thursday.
Lazio owner Claudio Lotito said Mediaset, “We’re proud of the result because we think that our performance deserved it.”
“Today the team showed itself to be a united and determined group, that’s what a football team needs to be.”
Zaccagni’s penalty shot settled a game that was high-tension but low on goal-mouth activity.
After replacing Stephan El Shaarawy in the 76th minute, Edoardo Bove, a midfield player for Roma, was struck in the neck with a beer bottle as rival supporters threw flares at one another before and during the game.
On the field, just before Zaccagni’s game-winning penalty kick was awarded due to a foul by Dean Huijsen on Valentin Castellanos, Matias Vecino forced a save out of Rui Patricio.
Even with renowned forwards Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku on the field, Roma was unable to generate many opportunities until Vecino twice came near.
After halftime, Dybala had to leave the field, and Lorenzo Pellegrini was unable to provide the home team with any offensive spark.
The greatest effort Jose Mourinho’s team could generate came from Andrea Belotti’s half-volley in the 86th minute, which Christos Mandas expertly saved before Lorenzo Pellegrini pounced on the rebound.
As tensions mounted, Roma defender Gianluca Mancini was also sent off for disobedience after the final whistle, along with Lazio attacker Pedro and his Roma rival Sardar Azmoun.