Catania 2 : 1 Atalanta - Catania bow out with style

Posted Sunday, May 18, 2014 by PA

Catania left Serie A with some pride after clinching a 2-1 win over Atalanta on the final day of the season.

The Sicilians took the lead through Francesco Lodi in the 65th minute, but Moussa Kone brought Atalanta level.

A late penalty from Gonzalo Bergessio enabled Catania to take all three points and move to just a point behind Chievo, yet it was not enough to keep them in the top flight.

With Catania already relegated and Atalanta no longer able to challenge for a place in Europe, the game was something of a dead rubber at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

There was no impression either that the Sicilians wanted to leave the top flight on a high as both sides just cancelled each other out in the first half - thoughts had clearly already turned to the summer holidays.

The game came to life more in the second half with Atalanta starting to show more attacking intent, German Denis getting in a few good chances.

That brought a response out of Catania, who went close through Bergessio before their goalkeeper Alberto Frison denied Yohan Benalouane at the other end.

Finally, the fans inside the Massimino were starting to enjoy themselves, especially in the 65th minute when Lodi exchanged passes with Bergessio before beating Atalanta's rookie goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, in for Andrea Consigli after he had an operation on his eye on Friday.

Francesco Fedato went close to making it two when he hit the post midway through the second half before Bergessio was denied by a fine save from Sportiello.

Catania were starting to dominate, but it was Atalanta who struck next with Denis' 25-yard effort tipped onto the crossbar by Frison, who was unfortunate to see the ball rebound for Kone to slot in.

Bergessio missed another chance to put Catania back in front, but he was given one final chance to score his last goal in Serie A, at least this season, when a handball in the area saw Catania awarded a penalty.

Bergessio was not going to waste his third big chance of the game as he finally got the better of Sportiello to earn Catania one final win before they slipped into Serie B.