2-2 draw in the friendly v AZ Alkmaar
Lookman favoured an OG before De Ketelaere's temporary lead
Spoils were shared at the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar as the friendly against AZ Alkmaar culminated in a 2-2 draw. After trailing by one goal at halftime, the Nerazzurri turned the game around in the second half courtesy of Lookman, who forced an own goal from the home side, and De Ketelaere.
The match also served as the cheerful culmination of the AZ Fan Day, namely the customary "Open Day" event arranged by the Dutch Club as a summer get-together with their fans.
The home side threatened first with a 5-minute chance through Parrot, who finished wide after bursting into the box. 16 minutes in, came the Nerazzurri's retaliation as Scamacca saw his twist finish following a give-and-go with Zappacosta on the offensive third end, which ended up off target. AZ struck back barely two minutes later when Carnesecchi blocked Moller Wolfe's attempt. After Teun Koopmeiners' 27-minute scorcher flew high over the bar, the Nerazzurri had a close brush with the goal in the following 60 seconds from a corner-kick situation: Ruggeri crossed the ball into the box to find Teun once again, who saw his volley thwarted by Zoet this time. Atalanta's offensive spree raged on with two further chances within minutes: at his third attempt, Koopmeiners threatened once again in the 31st minute (when his angled drive flew slightly wide off target) before Lookman had his go on 33 minutes after gathering Pašalić's pinpoint through pass but missed the bullseye by inches. It was AZ Alkmaar who broke the deadlock first though with Parrot's header on 35 minutes. Minute 41 called for the Nerazzurri's near equaliser at the end of a bubbly duo play along the Ruggeri-Lookman left-flanked axis, which culminated in the Bergamasco wingback forcing Zoet's flying save.
The second half opened up with De Roon's last-ditch retrieval on Poku followed by Scamaccca's 56-minute attempt flying slightly wide. In the 61st Mijnas threatened with a spin shot but he missed the target. Atalanta's equaliser eventually came 65 minutes in when Lookman saw his volley finish on Bakker's cross take a winning deflection off Moller Wolfe and ricocheted into the goal. It was then a matter of minutes, 5 to be exact, before the Nerazzurri turned the match around from a corner-kick situation: Kolašinac nodded the ball for De Ketelaere who finalised at leisure close to the far post. After levelling on 87 minutes with Zeefuik, the home side also managed to sting Musso's gloves with Poku's 90-minute ranged scorcher from outside the box. As the final whistle echoed through the AFAS Stadion, Atalanta's first pre-season international friendly culminated in a 2-2 draw.
AZ ALKMAAR 2-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Parrot 35 (AZ), Moller Wolfe 65 own goal (AZ), De Ketelaere 70 (A), Zeefuik (AZ)
AZ Alkmaar: Zoet (Verhulst 46), Maikuma (Kasius 74), Goes, Dekker (Bazoer 66), Moller Wolfe, P. Koopmeiners, Belic (Clasie 46), Sadiq (Addai 66), Mijnans (Zeefuik 80), Van Brederode (Buurmeester 80), Parrott (Poku 46). Unused Subs: Virginio, Penetra, Van Bommel. Coach: Maarten Martens.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi (Musso 60), Godfrey (Toloi 74), Hien (Palestra 74), Kolašinac (Bonfanti 74), Zappacosta (Hateboer 60), Pašalić (Sulemana 60), de Roon (Manzoni 80), Ruggeri (Bakker 60), T. Koopmeiners (Giovane 80), Lookman (El Bilal 74), Scamacca (De Ketelaere 60). Unused Subs: Rossi, Djimsiti. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Joey Kooij (Assistant referees: Patrick J. Inia and Michael J.A. Osseweijer).
Notes: Goes (AZ), Addai (AZ).