Nigeria Players Abroad
Ademola Lookman scores and bags assist as Atalanta seal Coppa Italia final spot
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman had a hand in two of Atalanta’s four goals during 4-1 win against Fiorentina in the return leg of the semi final match of Coppa Italia.
Atalanta had trailed the first leg with a goal and couldn’t wait for long to draw level on aggreggate with Teun Koopmeiners drilling low into the far corner to open the second-leg scoring after just eight minutes.
The momentum swung further in Atlanta’s favour in the 53rd minute when Nikola Milenkovic was dismissed for denying a goalscorng opportunity, bringing down Gianluca Scamacca who was bearing down on goal.
However, Lucas Martinez Quarta who was brought on to sure things up after the red card soon made a difference at the other end, getting on the end of Cristiano Biraghi’s set piece delivery with a header to unexpectedly restore Fiorentina’s aggregate lead.
La Viola’s resistance lasted just seven minutes, and this time Scamacca wouldn’t be denied his seventh goal in eight competitive games, emphatically burying an acrobatic effort to restore parity in the tie.
Vincenzo Italiano withstood a late barrage from their host but eventually suffered two decisive blows.
First, Lookman struck a low effort that was eventually allowed to stand following a tight offside call before Mario Pasalic hit Fiorentina on the counter attack to make it 4-1 on the night and seal Atalanta’s place in the final of Coppa Italia.
Lookman came on for Ederson in the 70th minute before his side’s third goal and provided an assist for Fiorentina’s fourth.
Fiorentina will face Juventus in the final of Coppa Italia.
