Lazio Keeper’s Penalty Heroics
- Lazio goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four consecutive penalties to send his team into the Italian Cup final. (x.com) - Motta denied spot-kicks from Scamacca, Zappacosta, Pašalić, and De Ketelaere in the shootout sequence. (x.com) - The sequence quickly went viral on X as one of the standout domestic-cup moments this week. (x.com)
Lazio reached the Coppa Italia final on April 22 after goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four straight penalties in a shootout against Atalanta. (espn.com) The second leg in Bergamo ended 1-1 after extra time, leaving the semifinal tied 3-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 first leg in Rome. Alessio Romagnoli scored for Lazio in the 84th minute, and Mario Pašalić equalized for Atalanta two minutes later. (legaseriea.it) In the shootout, Atalanta scored first through Giacomo Raspadori, then Motta stopped attempts by Gianluca Scamacca, Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pašalić and Charles De Ketelaere. Lazio converted twice and advanced 2-1 on penalties. (sports.yahoo.com) Penalty shootouts are decided from the spot after a knockout tie stays level, and goalkeepers usually need one save to swing the contest. Motta made four in a row, which turned a five-kick sequence into a one-man rescue act. (apnews.com) The result sent Lazio into a final against Inter on May 13 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Inter confirmed the pairing and the date after winning the other semifinal. (inter.it) Motta is 21 and only joined Lazio on Jan. 27, when the club signed him permanently from Reggiana. Lazio announced the transfer as a long-term deal earlier in the winter window. (sslazio.it) Reuters reported that Motta saved four of Atalanta’s five spot kicks, while ESPN and Lega Serie A listed the tie as 1-1 after extra time and 2-1 to Lazio on penalties. Those details explain why the sequence spread quickly online: Atalanta had multiple chances to finish the shootout and could not beat him again. (omanobserver.om)
