Lazio have booked their place in the Coppa Italia final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Atalanta.
The semi-final clash ended in a tightly contested 3–3 result on aggregate and remained level after extra-time.
Evenly balanced from the first leg, which ended 2–2, both teams had everything to play for in the return fixture.
In the second leg there was no goal until the 84th minute, when Alessio Romagnoli broke the deadlock.
Mattia Zaccagni delivered a precise corner kick, and Romagnoli met it with a well-taken volley to put Lazio ahead.
However, the lead lasted only two minutes.
Atalanta responded quickly through Mario Pasalic, who restored parity.
Nikola Krstović initiated the move, finding Pasalic in space after holding up play and beating his marker, allowing the midfielder to finish clinically into the net.
Despite chances for both sides in normal time and extra time, neither team could find a decisive winner, sending the match to penalties.
The shootout proved equally intense.
Giacomo Raspadori was the only Atalanta player to convert his penalty, while Charles De Ketelaere, Mario Pasalic, Davide Zappacosta, and Gianluca Scamacca all missed their efforts.
For Lazio, Gustav Isaksen and Kenneth Taylor both scored, securing their side a place in the final.
Nigerian midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came on in the 77th minute and contributed a disciplined performance.
He completed 82% of his passes, delivered several dangerous crosses, and worked tirelessly defensively, tracking back and covering ground across the pitch.
Also read: “He Looks Confused” – Former Lazio Midfielder Questions Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
The result means Dele-Bashiru now has the chance to win his first major trophy, as Lazio reach their first Coppa Italia final in seven years.
They will face Inter Milan in the final on May 13.
Lazio have won the competition seven times in their history, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019 when they defeated Atalanta 2–0 in the final.
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