Altamura produced a disciplined away performance to beat AS Sorrento Calcio 2-1 in Italian Serie C on Saturday night, with a late goal settling a contest that had looked destined for a share of the points. Under the lights at the Stadio Italia, the visitors combined compact defending with sharp counter-attacking to claim a result that could prove valuable in the race for the promotion play-off places.

Match Overview

The match pitted Sorrento’s patient possession game against Altamura’s more direct, transition-focused approach. Sorrento saw plenty of the ball in the opening half, working it through midfield and looking to release their wide forwards, but Altamura’s back line held its shape well and limited clear sights of goal. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half and, even after being pegged back early in the second, never lost their composure. The winning goal arrived with six minutes remaining, capping a performance built on organisation and efficiency rather than dominance.

Key Moments

• 18th minute – Altamura take the lead: A quick turnover in midfield sent Luca Palumbo through the right channel, and the striker finished low across the goalkeeper to silence the home crowd.
• 52nd minute – Sorrento equalise: The hosts finally turned territorial pressure into a goal when Salvatore Russo met a cut-back from the left and swept the ball home from close range.
• 67th minute – Sorrento denied by the woodwork: A dipping free-kick from Gennaro Esposito clipped the top of the crossbar as the home side pushed for a second.
• 84th minute – Altamura win it: Nicolò Bianchi arrived late in the box to convert a low cross, restoring the visitors’ lead and deflating Sorrento’s late push.

Tactical Story

Altamura set up in a compact 5-3-2 shape without the ball, inviting Sorrento to play in front of them and then attacking the spaces left behind the full-backs. That plan worked particularly well in the first half, when Sorrento’s midfield struggled to find pockets between the lines. The home side improved after the break by getting their wingers higher and stretching the visitors’ back five, but Altamura’s midfield trio stayed disciplined and kept the central areas congested. The winning goal was a perfect illustration of their approach: a quick recovery, a direct pass into the channel, and a late runner arriving unmarked at the back post.

Standout Players

Luca Palumbo was Altamura’s most dangerous outlet, holding the ball up well and taking his goal with real composure. Nicolò Bianchi produced the decisive moment and covered enormous ground in midfield, while centre-back Andrea Conti made a series of important clearances as Sorrento pressed late on. For Sorrento, Salvatore Russo took his equaliser well and Gennaro Esposito was the hosts’ creative spark, but the home side lacked the same cutting edge in the final third.

Table Impact

The win gives Altamura a timely boost in the Serie C standings, strengthening their position in the hunt for a promotion play-off spot. For Sorrento, the defeat leaves them with work to do as they look to climb away from the mid-table pack. With both sides facing a demanding run of fixtures, the three points could carry extra weight come the business end of the season.