Pro Vercelli 0-0 Atalanta U23s
Goalless draw in Vercelli
Spoils were shared at the Silvio Piola stadium as the MD31 game between Pro Vercelli and Atalanta U23s played out to a 0-0 draw.
The first chance of the game went to Pro Vercelli, with Comi going attempting a bicycle kick on 11 minutes, ultimately kept out by Vismara through a crucial save. The Comi-Vismara duel resumed in the 19th, as the Atalanta keeper flew to stop the opponent's header cold. With the lion's share of ball possession in the first half, the hosts threatened once again in the 25th, forcing the Nerazzurro goalie to step up once again to keep Vigiani's shot at bay. Atalanta returned in kind 2 minutes later as Vlahović's left-footer sailed wide off the mark. On 36 minutes, Ceresoli floated in a delectable cross for Alessio, whose header only met Franchi's gloves. The rebound fell to Ghislandi, who tucked it in, with the referee blowing for an offside. As the U23s picked up steam in the closing minutes of the first half, Vlahović nearly broke the deadlock with his 39-minute finesse chip.
The second half began with both sides attacking: the Nerazzurri had their first chance on 52 minutes when Ghislandi's through ball found Vlahović, who shot over the bar. After coming off the bench, Bernasconi burst into the box from Vavassori's lay-off but was denied at the second attempt by Franchi on 70 minutes. Atalanta U23s came close once again in the 75th with Alessio, grazing the post with his toe-poke shot. The match wrapped up in the 98th minute on a Panada free-kick, which barely shook up the opposing keeper.
PRO VERCELLI 0-0 ATALANTA U23s
Scorers: -
Pro Vercelli: Franchi, De Marino (Carosso 29), Marchetti, Iotti, Emmanuello (Schenetti 81), Vigiani (Niang 81), Pino, Comi (C), Iezzi, Coppola (Siafa 65), Clemente. Unused bench: Rizzo, Cirillo, Burruano, Sbraga, Romairone, Rutigliano, La Rosa, Benacquista, Zarrouki, Gaglioti. Coach: Marco Bianchini.
Atalanta U23s: Vismara, Del Lungo, Gyabuaa (C), Panada, Vavassori, Ghislandi (Bergonzi 65), Obrić, Ceresoli (Bernasconi 65), Alessio (De Nipoti 78), Navarro, Vlahović (Cassa 65). Unused Bench: Pardel, Bertini, Berto, Pounga, Masi, Comi, Scheffer, Mencaraglia, Artesani. Coach: Alessandro Gamberini (replacing Francesco Modesto, suspended).
Referee: Enrico Gigliotti from Cosenza;
Assistant referees: Emanuele Bracaccini from Macerata and Carlo De Luca from Merano;
Fourth official: Mattia Mirri from Savona.
Notes: Panada (A), Coppola (P) and Niang (P) booked.