Triumph made in China

Season 2009-10

Super Coppa Final

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Beijing National Stadium, Beijing

Inter Lazio 1-2

Lazio beat Inter and win their third Super Coppa thanks to Matuzalém, Rocchi and some super Muslera saves.

The previous season Lazio won the Coppa Italia beating Sampdoria on penalties in the final. They hence qualified for the Super Coppa where they would meet the mighty Inter who had easily won the scudetto.

Lazio were the underdogs, there was little chance they could beat Inter.

The match: Saturday, August 8, 2009, Beijing National Stadium, Beijing

Lazio started well and a Francelino Matuzalém shot in the 3rd minute went just slightly high. In the 16th minute Diego Milito received the ball just inside the box on the far right, he passed it to the centre for Samuel Eto’o, easy save for Fernando Muslera. In the 20th minute Mauro Zarate took a shot at goal, brilliantly saved into corner by Julio Cesar. In the 32nd minute Sulley Muntari, thanks to a rebound, found himself all alone in front of the Lazio goalkeeper but his shot was too high. Four minutes later corner for Inter. Esteban Cambiasso sent the ball into the Lazio box, great header from Lucio but an even greater save by Muslera. The first half ended goalless.

In the second Inter continued to press Lazio and had a number of chances. In the 47th minute Muslera saved a Muntari shot, Lucio in the 51st sent the ball high with a header from a corner and two minutes later a Dejan Stankovic-Eto’o-Muntari combination allowed the Serb to shoot from a favourable position but the ball went wide. In the 56th a terrible pass back to Muslera from Modibo Diakité put Eto’o in front of the Lazio goalkeeper. After having dribbled past Muslera, the Cameroon champion sent the ball wide despite the open goal. Two minutes later Milito had a go from inside the box on the right but again Muslera saved.

In the 62nd minute Lazio scored. Free kick from thirty metres almost dead centre, Aleksandar Kolarov went for the big shot, the ball first hit the wall, then another Inter player and arrived comfortably to Matuzalem. His volley was parried by Julio Cesar but it ricocheted off the Lazio player's face and went in. Inter 0 Lazio 1 completely against the run of play. It hurt Matuzalem, but no pain no gain!!! Great joy for the many Chinese Lazio supporters.

Four minutes later Lazio doubled. Stefano Mauri, just over the Inter half, sent a great ball to Tommaso Rocchi who stopped it with his chest and before Christian Chivu or Lucio could intervene sent a wonderful lob over Julio Cesar and into the net.

Inter were stunned but put their head down and attacked. In the 77th minute Mario Balotelli stole the ball off Ousmane Dabo and passed it to Eto’o in the box on the left, massive whack, nothing Muslera could do. Inter 1 Lazio 2.

Muslera saved a Milito shot in the 82nd minute and 180 seconds later the Argentine with a great shot just inside the box scored, but Eto’o, standing right in front of the Lazio goalkeeper, was in offside and the goal was disallowed. In the second minute of injury time a Balotelli free kick shaved the post and in the fourth a David Suazo header was parried into corner by Muslera.

Lazio won their third Super Coppa. Inter had loads of chances but Muslera was unbeatable. Tommaso Rocchi lifted the cup.

Who played for Inter

Julio Cesar, Zanetti, Lucio, Chivu, Maicon, Stankovic (69' Balotelli), Thiago Motta (69' Vieira), Cambiasso, Muntari (84' Suazo), Milito, Eto'o

Substitutes: Toldo, Cordoba, Burdisso, Santon

Manager: Mourinho

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Diakite, Kolarov, Brocchi, Baronio (52’ Dabo), Matuzalem (81’ Cribari), Mauri, Rocchi (71’ Cruz), Zarate