Coppa Italia: Lazio - Inter

Pele 0-1

Cruz 0-2

Highlights



Lazio defeated at Rome

Marco Materazzi and Roberto Mancini were both red carded as Inter booked their place in the Coppa Italia final with a fiery 2-0 win over Lazio in Rome, Pele and substitute Julio Cruz grabbing the goals.

Both sides fancied their chances of making it into the final following the 0-0 first leg draw at San Siro a few weeks ago.

Lazio knew that this game represented their final hope of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. For this reason, Coach Delio Rossi picked the strongest team available to him, unleashing the forward trio of Goran Pandev, Tommaso Rocchi, and Rolando Bianchi.

Inter, who were already without a host of injured stars such as Luis Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ivan Cordoba and Walter Samuel, rested a number of first team players for this weekend’s possible Scudetto clincher against Siena. Luis Jimenez started behind lone frontman David Suazo.

Lazio made a bright start and almost took the lead after just two minutes as Christian Ledesma fired in a free kick that slammed onto the post to Francesco Toldo's right.

Rocchi was then inches away from scoring as he attempted a shot from the edge of the area, following a mistake by Francesco Bolzoni, but he shaved the post.

On 23 minutes Christian Chivu brought down Pandev on the edge of the area. The Macedonian took it himself but fired his effort well over the crossbar. Pandev had another chance to shoot minutes later, this time from inside the area, but he wasted too much time and the chance was lost.

Inter slowly started to get into the game, and on 37 minutes Jimenez sent in a free kick that found its way to Pelé, but the youngster's shot from distance was easily saved by Marco Ballotta.

Pandev had a volley comfortably stopped by Toldo, before Inter missed a great chance to take the lead. Suazo back-heeled the ball brilliantly for Jimenez, who fired wastefully wide.

Just before half time, Ledesma again tried his luck from a free kick, but the midfielder's effort was off target.

Into the second half and there was immediately a chance for Lazio as Pelé was forced to make a brilliant clearance to keep out a diagonal shot from Valon Behrami.

On 52 minutes the deadlock was broken, and it was Inter who got the goal. Pelé unleashed a fine shot from inside the area that flew in under the crossbar. This meant that Lazio now needed to score twice to reach the final.

Lazio struggled to react to falling behind, and Suazo headed wide from a corner.

On 63 minutes the referee waved his red card, but it was not issued to any of the players. Inter coach Roberto Mancini was the recipient, and he was sent to the stands for sarcastically applauding the match official.

Lazio finally started to exert some second half pressure, and twice went close with free kicks, with first Ousmane Dabo, and then substitute Aleksandar Kolarov firing wide.

Kolarov had another attempt on 75 minutes as Rocchi fed him the ball, but the youngster's shot from the edge of the area again went wide.

The Serbian international was involved in everything, and minutes later he was issued a yellow card, along with Inter substitute Julio Cruz, following a mini-brawl inside the Lazio penalty area. Replays showed that Cruz had punched Kolarov, and he is certain to be penalised after the game with the use of video evidence. Kolarov meanwhile was bleeding.

The tension was rising, and it was no surprise on 83 minutes to see the referee get his red card out for a second time. This time Marco Materazzi was the recipient, following a truly awful foul on Pandev.

Any hopes this may have offered Lazio of a miraculous comeback were soon dashed as just moments later Cruz made it 2-0. The Argentine took advantage of a Ballotta mistake to slot the ball into an open net and book Inter's place in the final.

The Nerazzurri, who are still on for a domestic double, now await the winners of tomorrow's semi final second leg clash between Catania and Roma in Sicily, which the Giallorossi lead 1-0 from the first leg.

Lazio: Ballotta, De Silvestri (Tare 87), Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri (Kolarov 66), Ledesma, Dabo (Mutarelli 80), Behrami, Pandev, Bianchi, Rocchi

Inter: Toldo, Burdisso (Materazzi 68), Chivu (Maicon 77), Rivas, Maxwell, Cesar, Bolzoni (Cruz 57), Pele, Zanetti, Jimenez, Suazo