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 in opposition to Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta on Tuesday night, because of a aim off the bench from substitute Santiago Castro.
Charles De Ketelaere stung the palms of Lukasz Skorpuski six minutes in after a beautiful ball by from Ederson, however the Belgian may need been higher off squaring to the on-rushing Mateo Retegui on the again publish.
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 behind 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, attempting a first-time effort from the sting of the realm 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 manner into the realm. Emil Holm touched him on the again proper on the sting of the realm, however the Rossoblu averted each a sending off and a penalty.
There was one other Atalanta debutant when Stefan Posch got here on within the 72nd minute in opposition to the membership who he left to hitch La Dea on mortgage with an possibility to purchase on Monday night.
Maldini had a wonderful probability to internet on his Atalanta debut shortly after Posch was launched. Marco Brescianini had fed him by one-on-one on the sting of the realm, however the eventual shot went straight at Skorupski.
Holm additionally had a strong effort saved by Rui Patricio on the different finish only a few 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 harm time when Bologna have been doing their greatest to gradual the sport down. Marten De Roon didn’t take kindly to Dan Ndoye standing in the best way of his free-kick, so he pushed him over, picked up a yellow card and needed to be pushed away whereas a few 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′.