Motta saves four as Lazio beat Atalanta to reach Coppa Italia final

BERGAMO, Italy: 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.