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Writer's pictureDag Jenkins

Lazio overturn Milan to continue cup dream

Updated: 1 day ago

Coppa Italia, Round of 16

Wednesday, December 3, 2008


Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Milan Lazio 1-2 (aet)


A late equaliser and a goal in extratime give Lazio rare win in Milan


Source Lazio Wiki

A cold, misty midweek day did not bring out many fans to the old San Siro stadium.

 

Milan were without Alexandre Pato and Rino Gattuso was suspended but had three Golden Boots up front: Kakà, Andrij Shevchenko and Ronaldinho. Lazio responded with Tommaso Rocchi- Goran Pandev in attack and Pasquale Foggia in support.

 

The game started with both sides cautious but Milan attacked more. The "Diavolo's" first chance came in the 18th minute and it was a huge one. Ronaldinho teed up Shevchenko who had only Fernando Muslera to beat but the "Castorino" (The Little Beaver) saved.

 

Lazio replied in the 24th minute with Stephan Lichsteiner, who had a shot whistle just wide of the post and in the 34th an Aleksandar Kolarov freekick, from the right side of the box, was double fisted away by Dida.

 

The game continued without major goal scoring chances. Milan going forward but they were slow and predictable. Lazio looked sharper on the counter attack but were unable to find the last decisive assist to threaten.

 

In the 40th minute Lazio lost Lichtsteiner through injury and he was replaced by Mourad Meghni

 

The first half ended with two chances finally, one each. First Mathieu Flamini saw his low drive go just wide and then Pandev had a deflected shot heading for the top hand corner but Dida flew and pushed it away into corner. Half time Milan 0 Lazio 0.

 

A balanced first half with few chances but evenly distributed.

 

There were no changes for the second half. In the 53rd minute Lazio went very close to scoring, Rocchi set up Pandev who turned and sent a low left foot towards the bottom corner but Dida dived brilliantly to his right and got a hand to it.

 

In the 66th minute came a potential game changer when former Roma Emerson was sent off for a second yellow after a foul on Cristian Ledesma. Ancelotti then changed Clarence Seedorf for a more defensive Gianluca Zambrotta.

 

Lazio almost immediately took advantage but a venomous Kolarov free kick was kept out by Dida.

 

In 70th minute Ronaldinho could thank his lucky stars he was not sent off too, after clearly elbowing David Rozehnal in the face but unseen by the referee.

 

A minute later Lazio replaced Rocchi with Mauro Zárate. Lazio were now in control and in the 75th minute Foggia's powerful, high strike from a tight angle was promising but saved into corner by Dida.

 

A minute later however Milan scored. In the 76th minute Shevchenko, who had missed a sitter in the first half, invented a gem, he raced forward gaining space at the edge of the box dribbling Meghni and then beat Muslera with a superb left-footed, low curling shot on the far post. Milan 1 Lazio 0.

 

A huge blow for Lazio who had been dominating the last period. Milan then changed Luca Antonini with Marek Jankulovski to face Lazio’s predictable assault.

 

Lazio threw themselves forward and in the 84th minute a cracking Lorenzo De Silvestri long range shot, following a corner, was blocked centrally by Dida. In the 85th minute Lazio replaced Ousmane Dabo with more creative Stefano Mauri. Meanwhile a minute earlier the Rossoneri had taken off the provisional match winner "Sheva" with young Mathias Cardacio.

 

In the 87th minute Lazio's pressure paid off, even if via a penalty given away by their former player Giuseppe Favalli. The "Professore" fouled Pandev just inside the box and Zarate equalised with the spotkick. He sent the ball to Dida's left who barely moved. Milan 1 Lazio 1. Lazio tried to win it with two more long range shots by Meghni and Kolarov but Dida was safe. Full time score 1-1 and extra-time. 

 

Lazio scored immediately. In the 92nd minute Pandev brilliantly controlled the ball in the area from a high cross, beat his man and shot but Dida parried, the ball fell to Zárate, whose shot was walled by Senderos and the ball came back to Pandev who this time fired into the roof of the net. Milan 1 Lazio 2.

 

Milan almost drew level a minute later when Ronaldinho's freekick took a deflection off the wall and hit the post.

 

Lazio from then on controlled well and only conceded a low, central Cardacio shot saved well by Muslera and another Ronaldinho freekick that went well high over the bar.

 

In fact, in the 112th minute it was Lazio who went closest to putting the game to rest. Foggia found himself unmarked in front of Dida but hammered the ball against the Brazilian from close range, on the rebound Mauri had another go but his shot was walled by Kakhaber Kaladze.

 

Milan tired and Lazio, with the extra man, kept possession not allowing the hosts to be dangerous again. Final score Milan 1 Lazio 2.

 

A deserved win for Lazio who, although helped by Milan being in ten men (but they should have been in nine), battled hard and always believed they could get the win. Wins in San Siro against Milan are few and far between and always satisfying. Next up, Torino at home in December. Lazio, the cup chasers, were determined to get to the Olimpico for the final on May 13. The road was still long but tonight was a giant step closer.

 

Who played for Milan 


Dida, Antonini (76' Jankulovski), Senderos, Kaladze, Favalli, Flamini, Emerson, Seedorf (69' Zambrotta), Kakà, Ronaldinho, Shevchenko (84' Cardacio)

Substitutes: Kalac, Maldini, Darmian, Strasser

Manager: Ancelotti

 

Who played for Lazio 


Substitutes: Carrizo, Belleri, Cribari, Brocchi

Manager: D.Rossi

 

Referee: Ayroldi


Goals: 76' Shevchenko, 87' Zarate (pen), 92' (extra-time)



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