Benevento 2-0 Atalanta U23s

Coming up short in Benevento, Atalanta U23s fell 2-0 in a match settled by a goal in each half. Despite the bright start, the Nerazzurri couldn't convert their early momentum into goals.

There was plenty of action in the first half at the Ciro Vigorito, with both sides creating chances to score. Five minutes in, Atalanta Under-23s threatened with a Cissé header that skimmed the post. Three minutes later, Vismara came to the rescue when he punched away Salvemini's close-range effort. After Vavassori's powerful long-range shot was deflected for a corner in the 19th minute, Benevento broke the deadlock one minute later through Manconi. The hosts threatened a second goal in the 29th minute when Salvemini failed to meet a cross. However, our Under-23s tried to respond through Cortinovis on 31 minutes, but his effort was deflected for a corner. In the dying minutes of the first half, the Nerazzurri kept pushing in search of an equaliser, with chances for both Vavassori and Ghislandi.

After Benevento hit the woodwork right after the restart, with Pierozzi rattling the crossbar in the 48th minute, the hosts doubled their lead just six minutes later: while Vismara parried another effort from Pierozzi, Salvemini pounced quickest and slotted in the rebound. As Atalanta U23s found themselves hard-pressed to mount a response, the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.

BENEVENTO 2-0 ATALANTA U23s

Scorers: Manconi 20 (B), Salvemini 54 (B)

Benevento: Vannucchi, Prisco (Mehic 64), Maita (C), Salvemini (Tumminello 82), Manconi (Della Morte 75), Lamesta (Carfora 82), Scognamillo, Ceresoli (Borghini 82), Saio, Ricci, Pierozzi. Unused bench: Russo, Suppa, Rillo, Sena, Romano, Cantisani, Tsingaras, Talia. Coach: Gaetano Auteri.

Atalanta U23s: Vismara, Berto, Comi, Pounga (Manzoni 59), Cortinovis (Misitano 72), Cissè, Guerini (Plaia 46), Ghislandi, Colombo (Riccio 79), Bergonzi (C), Vavassori (Papadopoulos 59). Unused bench: Torriani, Sassi, Tornaghi, Navarro, Levak, Idele, Lonardo, Camara. In panchina: Salvatore Bocchetti.

Referee: Bruno Spina from Barletta.
Assistant referees: Federico Linari from Florence and Michele Fracchiolla from Bari.
Fourth official: Mattia Ubaldi from Roma 1.
FVS operator: Luca Chianese from Naples.

Notes: Saio (B), Bergonzi (A), Berto (A) and Papadopoulos (A) booked.