Sports
Santiago Castro's Late Header Sends Bologna Into Coppa Italia Semi-Finals Against Atalanta
Bologna secured a spot in the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Atalanta, thanks to a late header from Santiago Castro. The match, which took place on Tuesday, saw Bologna dominating much of the possession, with their persistence finally paying off in the 80th minute. The victory sets up a semi-final clash against either Juventus or Empoli.
Atalanta made a strong start, with Charles De Ketelaere testing Bologna's goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski early on. Davide Zappacosta also had a chance but sent his shot over the bar. Bologna gradually grew into the game and nearly scored before halftime when Jhon Lucumi’s effort was saved by Rui Patricio.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half as Bologna remained resolute. With the game hanging in the balance, Bologna's head coach Vincenzo Italiano made a crucial substitution, bringing on Santiago Castro at the Gewiss Stadium.
Castro made an instant impact, scoring just two minutes after his introduction. He latched onto a precise cross from Charalampos Lykogiannis, heading it past Patricio at the back post to secure Bologna's progression. This win marked Bologna's return to the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time since 1999, under former manager Carlo Mazzone.
Bologna had been eliminated in their last two quarter-final appearances, but this time they avoided a third consecutive exit. They were deserving winners, boasting an expected goals (xG) total of 1.43 from 13 shots compared to Atalanta’s 0.87 from an equal number of attempts. The triumph was particularly sweet following Bologna’s recent Champions League exit, showcasing their resilience and ability to perform under pressure in domestic competitions.
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