Young keeper’s penalty haul
- Lazio's 21-year-old goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four penalties against Atalanta, sending Lazio into the Italian Cup final. (x.com) - Motta's four saves all came in the shootout, making him the decisive figure in the tie. (x.com) - The performance quickly trended online, with fans praising the youngster's composure in a high-pressure moment. (x.com)
Lazio reached the Coppa Italia final on April 22 after 21-year-old goalkeeper Edoardo Motta saved four straight penalties in a shootout against Atalanta. (espn.com) The second leg in Bergamo finished 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 Pasalic equalized for Atalanta two minutes later. (abcnews.com) In the shootout, Motta stopped attempts from Gianluca Scamacca, Davide Zappacosta, Pasalic and Charles De Ketelaere. Gustav Isaksen and Kenneth Taylor converted for Lazio as the Roman club won the tiebreak 2-1. (abcnews.com) Motta had joined Lazio from Reggiana in January on a permanent deal, and the club announced the signing as a long-term contract for the 21-year-old goalkeeper. His four-save night came less than three months after that move. (sslazio.it) The result put Lazio into the May 13 Coppa Italia final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where Inter will be the opponent. Inter confirmed the date, kickoff time of 21:00 Central European Summer Time, and Lazio as the other finalist after the semifinal round ended. (inter.it) For Lazio, the match turned on one of the hardest moments for any goalkeeper: the penalty shootout, where each kick is a one-on-one test from 12 yards with no rebound after a save. Motta did not just get a hand to one attempt; he denied four in a row and decided the tie himself. (newsday.com) Atalanta also had a goal ruled out before the shootout when Ederson thought he had scored on the hour, only for a Video Assistant Referee review to find a foul on the Lazio goalkeeper. That decision kept the match level long enough for Motta to become the central figure at the end. (abcnews.com) After the game, Motta said he was “emotional” and hinted at preparation behind the saves, saying, “There are secrets.” The line spread quickly along with clips of the shootout, as supporters focused on the poise of a goalkeeper who had arrived in January and is now taking Lazio to Rome for a final. (fotmob.com)
