New Delhi: Lazio coach Delio Rossi demanded a strong performance against Juventus and he got it as his side march on to the final.
Lazio have booked their place in the Coppa Italia final with a fine performance against a Juventus side who were not at the races in Turin.
Mauro Zarate's first half wonder goal got the Romans on their way before Aleksandar Kolarov doubled their money in the second half, while Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench to pull one back for his side in delightful fashion, but it was not enough.
First Half
Lazio kicked off in the Olimpico and they showed Juventus that they were in no mood to sit on their 2-1 advantage from the first leg. Good work by Pasquale Foggia created the first chance of the game. The winger drew a foul from Olof Mellberg and the referee awarded a free kick from outside of the box. Ledesma swung the ball on for Mauro Zarate, but the Argentine was late arriving at the back post as Gianluigi Buffon watched the ball spin wide.
Claudio Ranieri made some wholesale changes to the team which played against Inter and you could tell as Juve struggled to get forward. Lazio enjoyed the lions share of the possession in the opening minutes and they were unlucky not to have taken the lead when some slack Bianconeri defending saw Tommaso Rocchi through. Marco Marchionni failed to clear properly and the ball feel kindly to the Italian hitman. However, his left-foot shot on the turn was wide of Buffon's post.
The home side struggled to create any chances worthy of mention. Lazio's midfield quartet of Francelino Matuzalem, Ledesma, Christian Brocchi and Pasquale Foggia ensured all spaces were covered. The Bianconeri were forced to play long ball football which played into the Biancocelesti hands.
The Roman outfit were in control as Juventus continued to waste possession. Mauro Zarate should have given his side the lead when a clever pass in behind Lorenzo Ariaudo by Foggia allowed the hitman to run in on goal, but he snapped at the ball and his powerful effort went wide as Buffon looked on. Down the other end, Ranieri's men showed themselves occasionally, but when they did it was with intent. Quick feet by Sebastian Giovinco, who started in place of Pavel Nedved, saw him blitz past Lichtsteiner to cross a pinpoint ball for Vincenzo Iaquinta. The Italian striker dived to head the ball, but it was just wide.
Juve started to settle down and find their rhythm after 30 minutes of trying. A quick break involving Marco Marchionni and Iaquinta on the right allowed Trezeguet to find some space on the edge of the box as the Lazio defence tracked back. Iaquinta fed the ball to the Frenchman who controlled and unleashed a powerful drive on the turn, but Nelson Muslera got down well to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.
Down the other end, Zarate opened the door to the Olimpico final next month a little further, and finally gave his side the lead with a wonder goal. Kolarov slid a nice pass to the hitman who controlled, looked up, and fired a magnificent right-foot curler into the top corner. The sheer quality of the strike made Buffon look average as he struggled to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net.
Second Half
Claudio Ranieri knew his side were up against it and he introduced Pavel Nedved and Camoranesi for Marco Marchionni and Sebastian Giovinco respectively. The changes seemed to have the desired effect as the Bianconeri came out with all guns blazing. Trezeguet should have done better when Camoranesi guided the ball to his head, but the Frenchman hesitated which allowed Muslera to punch clear.
Juve's hopes of reaching the final were laid to rest when Kolarov, just like he did for Zarate's goal, waltzed towards goal unchallenged, this time he didn't pass though. The defender saw Buffon off his line and smashed a powerful effort towards goal. The ball took a wicked deflection off Zdenek Grygera as the ball beat the goalkeeper to double the Roman side's advantage on the night.
The Bianconeri reacted with aggression and pride and they were unlucky not to score twice in as many minutes. A super cross from Marchisio found Trezeguet who rose above everyone to head towards goal, but Muslera made a miracle save to prevent the ball from going in down this his left. Iaquinta should have pulled one back with a free header, but he placed it wide of the far post. Muslera was beaten, only the finish lacked accuracy.
Lazio finally succumbed to the Bianconeri pressure when Camoranesi found Alessandro Del Piero, who had just replaced Iaquinta, with another fine pass. The number 10 controlled brilliantly on his chest and smashed a volley from close range into the top corner. Muslera had no chance as the Italian struck coldly and sharply to halve his side's deficit. The goal boosted Juve and Nedved was unlucky not to have drawn his side level when he headed Camoranesi's cross onto the post from close range.
Lazio will meet either Inter or Sampdoria in the final next month.
Teams
Juventus 4-4-2: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Ariaudo, De Ceglie, Marchionni(Camoranesi), Tiago, Marchisio, Giovinco(Nedved), Iaquinta(Del Piero), Trezeguet.
Lazio 4-4-2: Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov, Brocchi(De Silvestri), Ledesma, Matuzalem(Dabo), Foggia(Mauri), Rocchi, Zarate.
Goals: Zarate 38', Kolarov 52', Del Piero 64'
Cards: Marchisio, Matuzalem
Red: Camoranesi (Dissent)
Ref: Nicola Rizzoli
More on Goal.com
Debate: Did Manchester United just win the Premier League?Spanish inquisition: Can Real Madrid beat Barcelona without Pepe & Robben?English angle: Yossi Benayoun, the most underrated player in the Premier League
Comments
0 comment