Atalanta's youth team has won the Coppa Italia Primavera, defeating Juventus in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Arena Civica in Milan. The decisive moment came from goalkeeper Anelli, born in 2008, who saved two penalties in the shootout, before teammate Ruiz converted the winning spot-kick to seal the trophy for La Dea.
Juventus had taken the lead in the 27th minute through a Rizzo strike and looked set to hold on for victory. However, Atalanta's Isoa rose highest from a corner in the fourth minute of added time to head home a dramatic equaliser, sending the final directly to penalties. There, the heroics of young goalkeeper Anelli proved the difference, capping a match in which he had also made several crucial saves during normal time, including a first-half stop from Durmisi that kept his side in contention.
The victory marks Atalanta's first triumph in the Primavera Coppa Italia since 2003. That team, coached by Finardi, featured future Serie A stars like Riccardo Montolivo and Simone Padoin, who was on the opposing bench tonight as the coach of Juventus's Under-20 side. The presence of Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi in the stands underscored the club's pride in a youth system that continues to produce talent and silverware.
For Juventus coach Simone Padoin, it was a bitter end to a final his side came close to winning. They created several chances to double their lead, with Durmisi hitting the crossbar in the second half, but were ultimately punished for failing to kill off the game. The result adds another chapter to the growing rivalry between the two clubs' prolific academies.
The trophy represents a significant achievement for Atalanta's entire youth sector, which has become renowned for developing players for the first team and beyond. Coach Massimo Brambilla, serving a touchline suspension, watched from the stands as his assistant Marco Zanchi guided the team to glory. The win provides a tangible reward for the club's long-term investment in its academy structure and offers a group of promising youngsters their first major professional honour.
