Lazio - Juventus 2-1 (Coppa Italy)

lazio - Juventus 2-1
Marchionni 34 (J)
Pandev 65 (L)
Rocchi 77 (L)

Lazio came into this game with renewed confidence, following successive Serie A victories over Lecce and Bologna and, with a UEFA Cup slot on offer through the Coppa Italia, Delio Rossi fielded a very strong starting XI. Tommaso Rocchi partnered Goran Pandev in attack, as Mauro Zarate was suspended. Stephan Lichtsteiner returned at right back, with Lorenzo De Silvestri making way.

Juventus had next week's big Champions League return with Chelsea to think about, but Claudio Ranieri still put out a number of big guns, with Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta up-front. Alex Manninger was given a run-out in goal, while Momo Sissoko partnered Tiago in the centre of midfield.

First Half

Juventus made a fast start, and were inches away from taking the lead within a few minutes as Iaquinta swept just past the post from Marco Marchionni's low cross.

Iaquinta's pace was causing problems for the home defence, and the Italy international cut in swiftly from the left on 15 minutes and forced Nestor Muslera into a low save.

Lazio then had their first real attempt of the game, as Rocchi fired a vicious volley straight at Manninger from 12 yards out.

On 18 minutes, Juventus had the ball in the back of the net as he slipped the ball past Muslera, but the linesman flagged for offside. Replays appeared to suggest that Iaquinta was probably level with Lazio's last man.

Juventus were having the best of the play, but Lazio occasionally threatened, and Matuzalem and twice Aleksandar Kolarov both unsuccessfully tried their luck with long-range left-footed shots.

On 34 minutes Juventus broke the deadlock. Cristian Molinaro's cross was poorly headed out by Manfredini, and the ball fell to Marchionni on the edge of the box, who controlled and volleyed past Muslera, with the aid of a Kolarov deflection.

Lazio almost hit back immediately, as Rocchi raced in behind the defence, but Manninger did superbly to push away the ex-Empoli man's goal-bound shot.

Manninger did even better minutes later, as the Austrian flew to his right to make a stunning stretching stop from Cristian Ledesma's free kick, which was destined for the top corner.

Lazio were really searching for an equaliser before the break, but Rocchi's cross fizzed agonizingly across the six yard box, away from the reach of the incoming Foggia.

Second Half

Lazio started the second half where they left off the first. First Matuzalem fired wide from distance, and them Rocchi nipped in front of Olof Mellberg but could not direct his shot on target.

Matuzalem was having shot after shot in this game, and he lashed wide yet again on 56 minutes following a poor defensive clearance.

A Lazio goal was on the cards, and it duly arrived on 65 minutes. Manninger made a fine save to deny Lichtsteiner, but he could do nothing on Pandev's follow-up.

The home side were rampant now, and only Manninger prevented a second goal, as he brilliantly tipped over Foggia's piledriver.

Foggia was terrorising Molinaro down the right in the second half, and the ex-Cagliari man then crashed a free kick against the bar.

The home side continued to dominate, but the ball just would not go in. Substitute Stefano Mauri was the next to hold his head, as he volleyed inches past the post.

Lazio finally, and deservedly, found their second goal with 13 minutes remaining, as Rocchi darted in behind Chiellini, and slid the ball under the onrushing Manninger.

The Biancocelesti eased up a touch after this goal, but Rocchi just could not stretch enough in injury time to get onto the end of a right wing cross.

Lazio will be delighted with their second half performance, but all is still to play for in the second leg in Turin.

Teams

Lazio: Muslera, Lichtsteiner (De Silvestri 79), Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov, Foggia, Matuzalem, Ledesma, Manfredini (Mauri 53), Rocchi, Pandev

Juventus: Manninger, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Marchionni, Tiago (Poulsen 69), Sissoko (Marchisio 60), Nedved, Iaquinta, Amauri (Trezeguet 79)

Source: Goal.com