Goalkeeper Edoardo Motta Propels Lazio to Coppa Italia Final with Historic Penalty Heroics Against Atalanta

Edoardo Motta saves four penalties as Lazio defeats Atalanta to reach the 2026 Coppa Italia final. They will face Inter Milan on May 13 in Rome.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 3:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

Dramatic Late Exchanges Force Extra Time in Bergamo

A tense semi-final second leg reached a fever pitch in the final minutes of regulation as both sides fought to break a deadlock that had persisted since the first leg in Rome. Lazio appeared to have snatched a definitive victory in the 84th minute when veteran defender Alessio Romagnoli connected with a corner from Mattia Zaccagni, volleying home to give the visitors a late lead. However, the advantage proved fleeting. Just two minutes later, Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic capitalized on a defensive scramble to slot home a deflected equalizer, drawing the aggregate score to 3-3. The quick succession of goals transformed a tactical stalemate into a frantic battle that neither side could settle during thirty minutes of scoreless extra time.

Motta Defies the Odds with Unprecedented Shootout Display

The night belonged to Lazio’s young goalkeeper, Edoardo Motta, whose performance in the penalty shootout etched his name into the club’s folklore. After Atalanta’s Giacomo Raspadori converted the opening kick, Motta proceeded to shut down the opposition entirely. The shot-stopper guessed correctly on four successive attempts, denying Gianluca Scamacca, Davide Zappacosta, Mario Pasalic, and finally Charles De Ketelaere. Despite Lazio missing their first two penalties, Motta’s dominance allowed the Biancocelesti to prevail with a rare 2-1 shootout scoreline. The feat marked one of the most statistically significant goalkeeping displays in the history of the competition, as Motta’s reach and reflexes turned a narrow margin into a decisive triumph.

VAR Decisions Fuel Post-Match Refereeing Controversy

Atalanta’s exit was marked by frustration over two critical VAR interventions that arguably shifted the momentum of the tie. In the 61st minute, Ederson thought he had opened the scoring after dispossessing Motta in the box, only for the goal to be chalked off because the goalkeeper was judged to have had both hands on the ball. A second blow came during extra time when Giacomo Raspadori’s potential winner was ruled out for a marginal offside. These decisions left Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini and his squad questioning the officiating, even as they dominated the match with 66% possession and 29 total shots compared to Lazio’s eight.