Coppa: Stan sends Lazio out

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Former Lazio star Dejan Stankovic scored the goal that sent Inter through to the final four of the Coppa Italia against his old club.

The tie was up in the air following the 1-1 draw at the Olimpico, but the Nerazzurri got off to a strong start and would’ve taken the lead after 12 minutes. Marco Materazzi rose to meet a Kily Gonzalez corner kick and only a Fabio Liverani goalline clearance kept Lazio on level terms.


Adriano then wasted an incredible chance when he sprung the offside trap on Sanchez Cribari’s error and put Marco Ballotta on the ground with a series of dummies, but fired wide of an open goal.


Lazio fought back with a Valon Behrami volley going wide and Francesco Toldo parrying Goran Pandev’s effort, but former Biancocelesti star Stankovic broke through with a fierce strike into the top corner of the net.


Massimo Oddo’s intervention at full stretch prevented Adriano doubling their lead, while after the break ex-Palermo midfielder Massimo Bonanni made his Lazio debut.


Toldo flew to fingertip a splendid dipping Stefano Mauri effort over the bar, while Pandev just failed to turn in from close range.


The visitors were now pushing Inter back into their own half and Toldo performed another crucial save on Stefano Mauri before Liverani’s curling left-foot finish skimmed the woodwork.


Santiago Solari wasted a good chance to close up the tie when his weak lob went straight to the goalkeeper and Igli Tare could've taken it to extra time with a soft header. Inter held on to win 1-0 on the night and qualify for the final four, 2-1 on aggregate.


The semi-finals will be Udinese-Inter and Palermo-Roma.



Inter 1-0 Lazio (2-1 on agg)


Scorers: Stankovic 36 (I)

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Inter Coach Roberto Mancini was all smiles after a battling display by his side saw them past Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup. "It wasn’t easy," he said.

Dejan Stankovic’s first-half goal was enough to separate the sides and put the Nerazzurri through 2-1 on aggregate, but it was a close-fought match at the San Siro.

Mancini fielded a number of second-string players including Francesco Toldo, Marco Materazzi, Pierre Wome, David Pizarro and Santiago Solari, but the Nerazzurri tactician was pleased with the way they went about the game.

"We had a lot of players out and so it certainly wasn’t easy to play in a match as tough as that," he said. "But I’m pleased for those who played tonight – a lot of them had cramp at the end.

"We’re in the semi-finals now and we want to go all the way because we’re the holders."

Lazio Coach Delio Rossi was understandably downhearted at the end of the game, given that his side had tested Inter to the full in a match that represented their last shot at silverware this term.

"We were really hoping to have a good Cup run," he said. "Over the two matches we deserved at least to take it to extra time, but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.

"Now we’re looking at the season game by game - we must concentrate on the League and try to give it our all."

Inter will consider themselves favourites to retain the Italian Cup given that they face under-strength Udinese in the semi-finals. The other tie is between Palermo and Roma.