Ghanaian duo Kamaldeen Sulemana (L) and Ibrahim Sulemana (R)
Ghanaian duo Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ibrahim Sulemana were both on target for Atalanta BC, but their goals could not secure victory in a thrilling 3-3 pre-season draw with NK Opatija at the Centro Sportivo Bortolotti 1.
Manager Ivan Jurić handed both players starting roles, and they lasted the entire 90 minutes.
Kamaldeen broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute with a close-range finish from a teasing cross. Eleven minutes later, Ibrahim Sulemana restored Atalanta’s lead with a superb strike from the edge of the box after Rajan Zlibanović had levelled the score.
Zlibanović struck again before the break to make it 2-2. In the second half, Nigerian forward Goodness Ajayi put NK Opatija ahead for the first time in the 50th minute, but a late penalty from Lazar Samardžić salvaged a draw for the hosts.
The result extends Atalanta’s winless run in pre-season to two matches following a heavy defeat to FC Köln on Saturday. The Blue-Blacks had previously recorded wins over AC Monza and RB Leipzig.
Kamaldeen and Ibrahim will be aiming to retain their places when Atalanta face Juventus in their final pre-season fixture ahead of the 2025/26 Serie A campaign.
