Kamaldeen Sulemana comes off the bench to score as Atalanta thrash Juventus
- Kamaldeen Sulemana scored off the bench as Atalanta thrashed Juventus 3-0 to reach the Coppa Italia semi-finals in Bergamo
- Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before Mario Pašalić sealed the win late on in a dominant display
- Atalanta controlled the match despite Juventus seeing more possession and will carry the momentum into their upcoming Serie A fixture against Cremonese
- A former Ghana striker believes Kamaldeen Sulemana now has a golden opportunity to secure more regular playing time at Atalanta
Kamaldeen Sulemana came off the bench to score a brilliant second-half goal as Atalanta cruised to a commanding 3-0 victory over Juventus in Bergamo, sealing their place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
The hosts took control early and were rewarded in the 27th minute when Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
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The striker kept his composure to convert after a sustained spell of pressure from Atalanta at the New Balance Arena.
Sulemana was introduced in the 71st minute and made an instant impact.
Just six minutes later, the Ghanaian winger perfectly timed his run to connect with a low cross from Raoul Bellanova, calmly steering a first-time finish past goalkeeper Mattia Perin to double Atalanta’s advantage and effectively extinguish Juventus’ hopes of mounting a comeback.
Watch Kamaldeen's goal below:
Atalanta’s dominance was underlined further eight minutes from the end when Mario Pašalić added a third goal.
The midfielder finished off a flowing move that began with substitute Nikola Krstović, rounding off an emphatic evening for Raffaele Palladino’s side.
Sulemana’s strike highlighted the depth and attacking options available to Atalanta, who delivered an impressive all-round performance.
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Despite Juventus enjoying more of the ball, the hosts restricted the visitors to very few clear-cut chances throughout the contest.
With their Coppa Italia progress secured, Atalanta will look to build on the momentum when they return to Serie A action. They are set to host Cremonese on Monday, February 9, as they continue to push strongly on multiple fronts this season.
Tagoe backs Kamaldeen to gain more minutes
Former Ghana striker Prince Tagoe believes Kamaldeen Sulemana now has a golden opportunity to secure more regular playing time at Atalanta following Ademola Lookman’s move to Atlético Madrid.
Speaking about the winger’s situation, Tagoe said the departure of Lookman has opened the door for Kamaldeen to step up and establish himself as a key figure in the squad.
“With Ademola Lookman leaving, Kamaldeen Sulemana now has a real chance to get more minutes and show what he can do,” Tagoe told YEN.com.gh. “This is the kind of opportunity every young player waits for.”
Tagoe added that Kamaldeen’s recent performances, including his goal off the bench, show he is ready to take on greater responsibility.
“We all know Kamaldeen’s quality — his pace, confidence, and ability to change games,” he continued. “What he needs now is consistency and trust from the coach, and this situation gives him exactly that.”
The former Black Stars forward also urged Kamaldeen to stay focused and make the most of the moment.
“Opportunities like this don’t come often at big clubs,” Tagoe noted. “If he works hard, stays disciplined, and takes his chances, he can make that position his own.”
Kamaldeen has been working his way back into prominence at Atalanta, and Lookman’s departure could prove to be a turning point as the Ghanaian winger looks to cement a regular role in the team.
Sulemana names Ronaldinho as his idol
In an earlier publication, YEN.com.gh reported that Kamaldeen Sulemana revealed how Ronaldinho Gaucho influenced his choice of jersey number.
The 23-year-old holds deep admiration for the former Ballon d’Or winner and continues to draw inspiration from his iconic style of play.
Source: YEN.com.gh
