Dele-Bashiru helps Lazio reach Coppa Italia final

Lazio have booked their place in the Coppa Italia final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Atalanta.

The semi-final clash ended with a close 3-3 aggregate score and remained tied after extra time.

Balanced from the first leg, which ended 2-2, both teams had everything at stake in the second leg.

In the second leg there was no goal until the 84th minute, when Alessio Romagnoli opened the scoring.

Mattia Zaccagni took a precise corner kick and Romagnoli responded with a well-taken volley to put Lazio ahead.

However, the lead lasted only two minutes.

Atalanta responded quickly through Mario Pasalic, who restored parity.

Nikola Krstović started the move, finding Pasalic in space after stopping play and beating his marker, allowing the midfielder to finish clinically into the net.

Despite both teams’ chances in regulation time and overtime, neither team could find a decisive winner, leading the match to penalties.

The shooting was equally intense.

Giacomo Raspadori was the only Atalanta player to convert his penalty, while Charles De Ketelaere, Mario Pasalic, Davide Zappacosta and Gianluca Scamacca all missed their attempts.

For Lazio, Gustav Isaksen and Kenneth Taylor scored, securing their team a place in the final.

Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came on in the 77th minute and contributed with a disciplined performance.

He completed 82% of his passes, made several dangerous crosses and worked tirelessly defensively, dropping back and covering ground all over the pitch.

Read also: “He seems confused” – Former Lazio midfielder questions Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

The result means Dele-Bashiru now has the chance to win his first major trophy as Lazio reach their first Coppa Italia final in seven years.

They will face Inter Milan in the final on May 13.

Lazio have won the competition seven times in their history, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019, when they defeated Atalanta 2-0 in the final.