Lazio reaches Coppa Italia final

BERGAMO – Lazio reached the Coppa Italia final as goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four penalties to secure a 2-1 shootout victory over ​Atalanta after a 1-1 draw in Bergamo on Wednesday left the ‌tie level at 3-3 on aggregate.Motta emerged as the hero in the shootout, saving all but one of the Atalanta attempts, with Kenneth Taylor and Gustav Isaksen finding ​the net for Lazio to send them through to the ​final.The sides began on level terms following a 2-2 draw in ⁠Rome in early March, though the return fixture started poorly with ​a stale opening half featuring few clear scoring opportunities.Ederson thought he had secured ​the breakthrough for Atalanta shortly after the hour mark, converting a rebound following a goalmouth scramble. However, the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review for a ​foul on Motta in the build-up, drawing loud boos from the home ​crowd.Lazio snatched an 84th-minute lead when Alessio Romagnoli pounced to fire home from close ‌range ⁠against a static Atalanta defence. The drama intensified two minutes later as Mario Pasalic netted a swift equaliser for Atalanta, drilling a low, deflected strike into the far corner from outside the box.Deep into stoppage time, Gianluca ​Scamacca saw his ​powerful header tipped ⁠onto the far post by Motta before the ball bounced clear, sending the match into extra time.Giacomo Raspadori had ​a further Atalanta effort disallowed for an earlier offside ​as the ⁠match remained deadlocked through extra time and proceeded to a penalty shootout where Lazio prevailed.They will face Inter Milan in the final after they overturned ⁠a ​two-goal deficit to beat Como 3-2 at home on Tuesday, ​winning the tie on aggregate following a goalless first leg. The final is scheduled to ​take place on May 13. The post Lazio reaches Coppa Italia final appeared first on Egyptian Gazette.