Lazio fly to semi-finals

Dag Jenkins
Jan 31, 2024
4 min read

Season 2016-17

Coppa Italia, Quarter Final

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Inter-Lazio 1-2

Lazio deservedly defeat Inter and set up possible double derby tie

In today's competition, the Coppa Italia, Lazio had beaten Genoa 4-2 at home to set up this quarterfinal against Inter who had reached this stage by defeating Bologna 3-2 at home a.e.t.

The pundits were expecting a balanced game this evening. Inter were only two points above Lazio in the league and the Romans have a good tradition in the domestic cup. Inter however came from nine consecutive wins and Lazio from two consecutive defeats.

The match

A crowd of just over 30,000 was present at "La Scala del Calcio", the old San Siro.

Inter decided to place striker Mauro Icardi on the bench but otherwise fielded a strong side.

Lazio too went for their best possible XI with the exception of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on the bench and only Keita Balde unavailable due to ongoing internal disputes.

Inter started on the front foot and dominated possession and territory. The Nerazzurri however lacked a real centre-forward and Dutch pair Wesley Hoedt and Stefan de Vrij won all the aerial battles in the area.

They did however go close twice as Ivan Perisic fired wide on an Antonio Candreva assist and then when Geoffrey Kondogbia dispossessed Lucas Biglia but his shot shaved the base of the post.

Inter's pressure gradually lessened and Lazio came out of their shell. They started to threaten on the break and struck in the 20th minute. A good cross by Senad Lulic was finished off nicely by a rare Felipe Anderson header, 0-1.

Inter were shaken and unbalanced. Lazio could have punished them again but first Ciro Immobile was perhaps selfish in shooting and not giving it to a better positioned Lulic and then Felipe Anderson, set up by Stefan Radu, had only the keeper to beat but failed, hitting Samir Handanovic instead. Halftime Inter 0 Lazio 1.

The Nerazzurri tried to make amends in the second half and changed Éver Banega and Rodrigo Palacio and brought on João Mario and Marco Icardi.

It was still Lazio however who threatened but Marco Parolo missed a sitter. An open goal opportunity after the keeper had parried a Hoedt header but a few minutes later the Biancocelesti were awarded a penalty. Miranda blundered in defence and then stamped on Immobile's foot, spot kick and the Brazilian defender was also off. In the 56th minute Lucas Biglia stepped up and fired a bullet into the roof of the net, 0-2.

Inter then took off Cristian Ansaldi and introduced Chilean Gary Medel.

Lazio were then wasteful again with a Felipe Anderson miss which kept Inter in it.

It seemed all over but Inter rallied and pushed forward furiously led by an unstoppable Perisic. Lazio were forced on the defensive and dug deep. Jeison Murillo headed just over the bar from a corner and Icardi had a header deflected by Hoedt which shaved the post.

In the 74th minute Inzaghi tried to change things by replacing Felipe Anderson and Lulic with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Jordan Lukaku.

The plan was soon complicated by Radu getting a second yellow and being sent for an early shower.

Inzaghi then reinforced the defence with Wallace coming on for midfielder Alessandro Murgia.

The contest was reopened in the 84th minute. A looping Mario Brozovic header went over a not impeccable Federico Marchetti and into the net to give the hosts hope.

The last ten minutes were spent in Lazio's area but the Biancocelesti held firm and Inter never really went close to equalising. Lots of high balls pumped into the box and a few scrambles but no shots. Final score: Inter 1 Lazio 2.

A good win for Lazio. They had beaten Inter away in the cup for the first time since 1961 and above all set up a possible derby semi-final against city rivals Roma who played Cesena at home the following evening.

A deserved win for Lazio who were made to sweat towards the end but could and should have put Inter out of their misery long before the last worrying minutes.

Who played for Inter

Handanovic, D'Ambrosio, Murillo, Miranda, Ansaldi (58' Medel), Brozovic, Kondogbia, Candreva, Banega (46' Joăo Mario), Perišić, Palacio (46' Icardi)

Substitutes: Carrizo, Andreolli, Santon, Éder, Nagatomo, Gagliardini, Biabiany, Gabriel Barbosa, Pinamonti

Manager: Pioli

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Patric, de Vrij, Hoedt, Radu, Parolo, Biglia, Murgia (78' Wallace), F.Anderson (74' Milinkovic-Savic), Immobile, Lulic (74' Lukaku)