Atalanta converted a penalty with the last kick of the game in the eighth minute of stoppage time following a video review to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 and secure a place in the round of 16 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Lazar Samardzic‘s spot kick clinched a dramatic 4-3 win on aggregate for Atalanta, ensuring there will still be Italian representation in Europe’s top club competition.
Extra time was looming when a mistake by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel allowed Atalanta to launch one last attack, after the allotted three minutes of stoppage time had been played. A cross into the area was about to reach the head of Nikola Krstovic when Dortmund defender Ramy Bensabaini flicked out his boot and caught the Atalanta substitute on the head, drawing blood.
A corner was initially given but after a VAR check, a penalty was awarded, Bensabaini was shown a second yellow card, and Samardzic sent his penalty into the top corner, sparking joyous scenes inside the stadium in Bergamo.
Timed at seven minutes, 53 seconds into stoppage time, Samardzic’s penalty is the second-latest regulation goal in UEFA Champions League history, and the latest regulation goal in the knockout stage.
Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images
«Everyone had written us off,» said Davide Zappacosta, one of Atalanta’s scorers, «but … we always believe and we never give up.»
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Atalanta replied through Gianluca Scamacca and Zappacosta in the first half, before Mario Pasalic headed in the third in the 57th minute to put the hosts ahead on aggregate.
Karim Adeyemi came off the bench to make it 3-3 on aggregate but there was time for late drama.
«It’s an unforgettable night,» Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino said, «a dream come true.»
Italy’s record of having at least one team in the round of 16 since that stage was reintroduced to the Champions League in 2003-04 was under threat after Serie A champion Napoli didn’t even make the playoffs after finishing in 30th place in the 36-team league phase and Inter Milan was eliminated by tiny Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs on Tuesday.
That left Atalanta and Juventus, which trails Galatasaray 5-2 heading into a home second leg later Wednesday.
Atalanta are back in the last 16 for the first time since the 2020-21 season and will play either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. The draw is on Friday.
The Associated Press and ESPN Research was used in this report.
