The Malta Independent on Sunday
Gallant Crotone not enough to stop Atalanta
Atalanta found it far tougher than expected to get the better of Crotone, as Andrea Conti’s tapin and the offside flag was the only difference.
Atalanta were in fourth place, level on points with the mighty Inter, and Europe was more than just a pipe dream for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men. Abdoulay Konko missed out, while relegation-threatened Crotone again lost Marcus Rohden to injury.
Crotone had beaten Atalanta only once in their previous five meetings, 1-0 in Serie B in October 2005, followed by three losses and a 2-2 draw.
Before kick-off there were beautiful scenes as the ultras paid tribute to Federico Pisani, the player who died with his girlfriend in a car crash 20 years ago.
The hosts found it surprisingly hard going, as a Papu Gomez free kick was charged down after one of his trademark mazy runs and Andrea Masiello was booked, meaning he’ll be suspended next week against Napoli.
A Gomez corner found Rafael Toloi for a free header that skimmed the crossbar.
The referee was extremely lenient, as Masiello risked a second yellow for a high foot and Andrea Petagna was forgiven for a reaction foul on Gian Marco Ferrari.
The half-time team talk must’ve worked, because Atalanta immediately looked more alert and determined. It paid off, as Petagna rolled across the sixyard box for Andrea Conti to tap in the opening goal within three minutes of the restart.
Petagna was tripped on the edge of the box, earning Ferrari a booking, but Papu Gomez slipped and fired the free kick over the bar.
Remo Freuler blasted over after Franck Kessie’s effort was charged down, while Crotone were still in it, Maxwell Acosty testing Etrit Berisha from distance.
Kessie almost made it 2-0 on 79 minutes, as he burst between two defenders and the dinked finish over the goalkeeper shaved a coat of paint off the far post.
The game opened up as Crotone threw on all their forwards and Atalanta enjoyed the spaces. Petagna’s snapshot was beaten away, so was Jasmin Kurtic’s follow-up and Papu Gomez’s curler smacked against the woodwork all in the space of 10 seconds.
Crotone thought they had equalised with just four minutes to go in Bergamo, as Berisha beat away an Andrea Barberis free kick and Aleandro Rosi nodded in the rebound, but he was correctly flagged offside.