The deflection wrong-footed Atalanta's goalkeeper who had been positioned correctly for the initial strike, and the ball looped over his outstretched hand and dropped into the net just inside the far post.

ROMA 4-4 ATALANTA

The Olimpico exploded again with noise that was deafening—Roma's sections erupting in celebration while their players sprinted toward the goalscorer who had his arms spread wide—and the momentum had swung violently once more.

Atalanta's players stood with hands on their heads processing what had just happened, and Demien clapped his hands once loudly while shouting "Come on! Focus! Still time!" to his teammates who looked deflated.

"Unbelievable drama!" the lead commentator shouted over the crowd noise. "Four-four! Roma level again just before the break in extra time! This match refuses to die!"

"The deflection was crucial," his colleague said while replays showed the shot's path changing direction. "Without that touch it's straight at the goalkeeper, but the deflection takes it just inside the post. That's heartbreaking for Atalanta who had fought so hard to regain the lead."

The interval in extra time came moments later and both teams walked slowly toward their technical areas with legs visibly heavy and faces showing exhaustion.

106' — 118

The second period of extra time began with both teams moving noticeably slower than they had in the first half, and the intensity remained high but the execution was affected by fatigue as passes were slightly less precise and runs slightly less explosive.

Demien remained active in Atalanta's attacking phases using his 89 Composure and 83 Ball Control to shield the ball when receiving under pressure, and he drew contact rather than forcing dribbles because protecting possession mattered more than creating spectacular moments.

Roma began targeting him more aggressively with defenders stepping in late on challenges, and twice he was fouled just outside the penalty area after receiving with his back to goal, and the referee's patience was being tested by the increasing physicality.

Around the hundred-fifteenth minute, Atalanta were maintaining possession in Roma's half when Demien received a pass near the right touchline and used his Marchisio Balanced Engine technique to drive forward with purpose despite the fatigue affecting everyone around him.

His 97 Stamina meant he was still capable of explosive movements while others were struggling, and he cut inside from the touchline toward the edge of the penalty area while drawing two defenders toward him.

119'

Demien received the ball just outside Roma's penalty area with his back to goal in the hundred-nineteenth minute, and he used his 91 Agility to turn away from the defender pressing him while opening his body toward goal.

As he drove forward taking two touches into dangerous territory, a Roma defender lunged desperately with a tackle that was reckless in both timing and execution, and the contact caught Demien late on his right ankle after the ball had already been pushed past.

Demien went down hard and the whistle blew instantly.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot without hesitation.

Chaos broke out immediately.

Atalanta's players rushed in with Koopmeiners and Højlund leading the charge while gesturing angrily at the tackle, and Roma's players surrounded the referee arguing that the contact was minimal and the decision too harsh, and voices were raised from both sides while bodies pressed close together.

The referee pulled out a yellow card for the tackle and held it high for everyone to see—then immediately reached into his other pocket and produced a red card because the defender had already been booked earlier in extra time for a similar late challenge.

The sending off was confirmed and the Roma defender walked slowly toward the tunnel with his head down while his teammates protested the decision, and the numerical advantage shifted decisively toward Atalanta with barely any time remaining.

"Reckless, unnecessary, and costly," the lead commentator said while replays showed the tackle clearly. "That's a second yellow card and the defender has left his team down to ten men in the final minute of extra time."

"And Walter drew that foul brilliantly," his colleague added. "He drove into dangerous space, forced the defender into a desperate decision, and the tackle was always late."

Demien stayed out of the confrontation completely—standing several meters away with hands on his hips while watching calmly as teammates argued and were eventually pulled back by the referee and Gasperini's shouting from the touchline—and his face showed focus rather than emotion because the penalty still needed to be converted.

Koopmeiners took the ball and placed it carefully on the penalty spot while the stadium held its collective breath, and Roma's goalkeeper positioned himself on the goal line while trying to impose psychological pressure through his movements.

The referee blew his whistle.

Koopmeiners took three steps and struck the ball low toward the right corner with power, and the goalkeeper dove the correct direction but the placement was perfect and his hand passed beside the ball rather than reaching it.

The net rippled.

ATALANTA 5-4 ROMA

Celebrations erupted near the corner flag with players piling on top of Koopmeiners while the bench spilled onto the sideline, and Demien jogged over clapping and pulling teammates up while shouting "Stay focused! Stay compact! It's not over!" because ninety seconds still remained.

The referee restarted the match with Roma down to ten men and trailing by one goal with time running out.

**120' — Full Time**

Roma threw everything forward in desperation—long balls launched toward their striker, desperate runs from midfielders, crosses delivered without proper buildup—and Atalanta dropped deep protecting the lead through disciplined defensive positioning.

They cleared their lines repeatedly and won fouls to disrupt Roma's rhythm, and the clock continued ticking while Roma's attacks became increasingly frantic.

The crowd roared with every Roma touch but the urgency was turning into frustration as Atalanta's defensive organization held firm, and when the fourth official's board showed three minutes of additional time, Roma's players pushed even higher despite the numerical disadvantage.

At 120 + 3, the referee glanced at his watch and blew three sharp blasts on his whistle.

Full time.

**ATALANTA 5-4 ROMA (AET)**

Atalanta's players collapsed in relief for one second before jumping to their feet in wild celebration, and Moretti was lifted into the air by teammates who were chanting his name while carrying him toward the away section.

Demien stood in the middle of it all with his hands on his knees breathing hard before straightening and smiling widely, and the fatigue was evident but his face showed satisfaction because he was fully back in competitive football after three months away.

Around them Roma's players sank to the grass with hands on their heads while the noise from their supporters faded into disappointed silence, and several were crying openly while others stared blankly at nothing.

Gasperini was embracing his coaching staff on the touchline and his face showed rare emotion, and when Demien jogged past he grabbed him briefly and said "Bene, Demien. Molto bene," before releasing him to continue celebrating with teammates.

The Atalanta supporters in the away section were bouncing continuously and waving flags while their chants echoed across the Olimpico, and the players moved toward them to applaud while Moretti was still being carried on shoulders.

Demien walked slowly with Koopmeiners and Højlund toward the away section, and his legs felt heavy but his mind was clear, and the match had been everything he'd needed—eighteen minutes plus extra time, two crucial contributions, no physical issues with his hamstring.

The system remained quiet in his peripheral vision because the mission had been completed, and the rewards would come later when he checked privately.

For now, this moment belonged to the team.

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