(Pandev 48’, Mauri 55’, Rocchi 90' - Natali 28’)
A first half goal from Cesare Natali put Torino ahead before Goran Pandev equalised for Lazio and great strikes from Stefano Mauri and Tommaso Rocchi comprehensively won the game for the Biancocelesti
First Half
The game at the Olimpico got underway at a slow pace, but Lazio showed their intent early on, attacking from the get go and pushing towards the Granata goal. Pasquale Foggia looked particularly lively in the early exchanges, and it was the tricky playmaker who came close to scoring in the 4th minute when his pressure forced a mix up between the Torino defender and keeper, allowing Foggia to poke a shot from an angle at goal, but the defence was able to clear to danger.
Five minutes later Torino had a chance, but Alessandro Rosina’s free kick went high and wide of the Lazio goal. The play was characterised by many late challenges and aggressive tackles, forcing the referee to step in, attempting to calm the nerves of those involved. In the 19th minute Lazio had their own free kick opportunity in front of Torino’s goal, but Kolarov’s strike was disappointingly high.
There were few chances in the first half, but Lazio grew in confidence as time went by and their home fans remained vocal. In the 24th minute a good build up from Lazio ended with the ball at Foggia’s feet in the corner of the box, but his finish went agonizingly high of the target. Torino captain Rosina received the first yellow card of the game, after a rash challenge on Foggia. On 26 minutes Lazio.
In the 28th minute Torino took the lead after a cross from Rosina eluded Muslera in the Lazio goal who could only tip the ball on, and Natali tapped in the easiest of chances. Lazio were shocked by the goal, and Rocchi tried to level matters a few minutes later, but his slide into the box after a defensive mistake sent the ball over the bar. Towards the end of the half Diana suffered an injury and was forced to leave the pitch, substituted by Vailatti.
Muslera had a tough time in the Lazio goal, with numerous mistakes showing his lack of confidence in the nets. Lazio were struggling to get back into the game following the Granata goal, and the Biancocelesti seemed eager for the half time break as the referee sent both sides into the change rooms after a minute of injury time.
Second Half
The second half saw a more determined Lazio team take to the pitch in search of the equaliser and it wasn’t long before they had their reward. Three minutes after the restart a great through ball from Mauri found substitute Pandev in the box, and his sweep beat Calderoni and went into the back of the net. The goal gave Lazio a confidence boost, and the home side came close to another goal on numerous occasions early in the second half.
Mauro Zarate was particularly vibrant in the second half, and a few good strikes came off the boot of the Argentinian. In the 55th minute a moment of magic from Mauri put the home side ahead in the game. On a Lazio attack the ball was cleared away from goal and came to the onrushing Mauri whose powerful cracker of a shot easily beat Calderoni and went into the goal, wowing the Biancocelesti faithful in the stands.
The capital club continued to attack and they were putting Torino under immense pressure at the back. In the 62nd minute Torino had one of their few chances of the second half due to a quick counter attack, but Rosina could not beat Muslera and the chance passed away. Two minutes later Lazio continued their attacking onslaught, but they could not extend their lead.
With fifteen minutes remaining on the clock Torino won a free kick on the corner of the penalty area, and from the resulting kick Dzemaili blasted a first strike into the wall, before chipping a second attempt into the area, but Muslera did well to catch the ball. Ten minutes from time Torino keeper Calderoni was saved by the post, as a scramble in the area ended with Mauri’s shot being saved by the keeper onto the post.
Lazio were in control in the later stages, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before the whistle was blown and Lazio could celebrate progression to the semi-final. Despite a few sporadic counter attacks for the Granata, the Biancocelesti looked comfortable and even hit the post two minutes from time through Dabo before Rocchi put the cherry on the top for Lazio with a fine strike from outside the box to give his side their third of the match. After five minutes of injury time and a few scares on either end the referee ended the game with the score at 3-1 for Lazio, sending the home side through to the semi-final.
The game at the Olimpico got underway at a slow pace, but Lazio showed their intent early on, attacking from the get go and pushing towards the Granata goal. Pasquale Foggia looked particularly lively in the early exchanges, and it was the tricky playmaker who came close to scoring in the 4th minute when his pressure forced a mix up between the Torino defender and keeper, allowing Foggia to poke a shot from an angle at goal, but the defence was able to clear to danger.
Five minutes later Torino had a chance, but Alessandro Rosina’s free kick went high and wide of the Lazio goal. The play was characterised by many late challenges and aggressive tackles, forcing the referee to step in, attempting to calm the nerves of those involved. In the 19th minute Lazio had their own free kick opportunity in front of Torino’s goal, but Kolarov’s strike was disappointingly high.
There were few chances in the first half, but Lazio grew in confidence as time went by and their home fans remained vocal. In the 24th minute a good build up from Lazio ended with the ball at Foggia’s feet in the corner of the box, but his finish went agonizingly high of the target. Torino captain Rosina received the first yellow card of the game, after a rash challenge on Foggia. On 26 minutes Lazio.
In the 28th minute Torino took the lead after a cross from Rosina eluded Muslera in the Lazio goal who could only tip the ball on, and Natali tapped in the easiest of chances. Lazio were shocked by the goal, and Rocchi tried to level matters a few minutes later, but his slide into the box after a defensive mistake sent the ball over the bar. Towards the end of the half Diana suffered an injury and was forced to leave the pitch, substituted by Vailatti.
Muslera had a tough time in the Lazio goal, with numerous mistakes showing his lack of confidence in the nets. Lazio were struggling to get back into the game following the Granata goal, and the Biancocelesti seemed eager for the half time break as the referee sent both sides into the change rooms after a minute of injury time.
Second Half
The second half saw a more determined Lazio team take to the pitch in search of the equaliser and it wasn’t long before they had their reward. Three minutes after the restart a great through ball from Mauri found substitute Pandev in the box, and his sweep beat Calderoni and went into the back of the net. The goal gave Lazio a confidence boost, and the home side came close to another goal on numerous occasions early in the second half.
Mauro Zarate was particularly vibrant in the second half, and a few good strikes came off the boot of the Argentinian. In the 55th minute a moment of magic from Mauri put the home side ahead in the game. On a Lazio attack the ball was cleared away from goal and came to the onrushing Mauri whose powerful cracker of a shot easily beat Calderoni and went into the goal, wowing the Biancocelesti faithful in the stands.
The capital club continued to attack and they were putting Torino under immense pressure at the back. In the 62nd minute Torino had one of their few chances of the second half due to a quick counter attack, but Rosina could not beat Muslera and the chance passed away. Two minutes later Lazio continued their attacking onslaught, but they could not extend their lead.
With fifteen minutes remaining on the clock Torino won a free kick on the corner of the penalty area, and from the resulting kick Dzemaili blasted a first strike into the wall, before chipping a second attempt into the area, but Muslera did well to catch the ball. Ten minutes from time Torino keeper Calderoni was saved by the post, as a scramble in the area ended with Mauri’s shot being saved by the keeper onto the post.
Lazio were in control in the later stages, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before the whistle was blown and Lazio could celebrate progression to the semi-final. Despite a few sporadic counter attacks for the Granata, the Biancocelesti looked comfortable and even hit the post two minutes from time through Dabo before Rocchi put the cherry on the top for Lazio with a fine strike from outside the box to give his side their third of the match. After five minutes of injury time and a few scares on either end the referee ended the game with the score at 3-1 for Lazio, sending the home side through to the semi-final.
LAZIO: Muslera, De Silvestri (Lichtsteiner 73’), Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov, Brocchi (Dabo 83’), Ledesma, Mauri, Foggia (Pandev 46’), Rocchi, Zarate.
TORINO: Calderoni, Colombo, Natali, Dellafiore, Ogbonna, Abate, Corini (Barone 60’), Dzemaili, Diana (Vailatti 37’ (Amoruso 64’)), Bianchi, Rosina.
TORINO: Calderoni, Colombo, Natali, Dellafiore, Ogbonna, Abate, Corini (Barone 60’), Dzemaili, Diana (Vailatti 37’ (Amoruso 64’)), Bianchi, Rosina.
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