Coppa Italia, Quarter Finals
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Milan Lazio 0-1
Lazio dump Milan out of the cup despite playing whole second half in ten men
Lazio's Coppa Italia campaign had started in August defeating Bassano 7-0 at home. In December they brushed aside Varese 3-0 at home and on January 14 beat Torino 3-1 away. Tonight, was the quarter final.
In Coppa Italia Milan had qualified for today's quarterfinals by beating Sassuolo 2-1 at home on January 13.
Lazio were higher up in the league table but seeing Lazio's record here, where they had not won in the league since 1989, the outcome was uncertain. Lazio had however beaten Milan away in the semi-final of the cup in 2004 and then went on to lift the trophy.
The match
A cold, late January Coppa Italia night only encouraged about 10,000 spectators to attend. It was also broadcast live on the Italian main network.
Both sides made several changes compared to league games. The Rossoneri rested keeper Diego López, defenders Philippe Mexes, Daniele Bonera and Mattia De Sciglio, midfielders Giacomo Bonaventura, Nigel de Jong, Keisuke Honda (on bench) and Stephan El Shaarawy.
The Biancocelesti decided to play without keeper Federico Marchetti, defenders Stefan de Vrij and Dušan Basta, midfielders Antonio Candreva (on bench), Senad Lulić, Felipe Anderson, Cristian Ledesma (on bench) and Stefano Mauri (on bench) plus forward Filip Djordjevic.
Lazio almost took the lead immediately when Ignazio Abate messed up a back pass to the keeper but Miroslav Klose having gone round Christian Abbiati fired wide. Lazio then had further chances with an Abdoulay Konko header, an Eddy Onazi strike from the edge of the box and a Keita Baldé solitary move.
Milan's only shots were a threatening Alessio Cerci volley parried well by Etrit Berisha and a central Jérémy Ménez effort comfortably saved the Albanian keeper.
Milan were in difficulty and changed something tactically. Filippo Inzaghi moved Sulley Muntari to the left, Andrea Poli and Riccardo Montolivo played centrally and Ménez moved towards the centre of attack.
Things seemed to be improving but then Lazio scored. On a Stefan Radu free kick into the area Michelangelo Albertazzi intercepted the ball with an outstretched left arm and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Lucas Biglia coolly slotted in a low shot to Abbiati's left. Milan 0 Lazio 1.
At this point Lazio seemed in total control but in the 44th minute were down to ten men. It was a harsh decision to say the least. Lorik Cana received two bookings in five minutes for pretty run of the mill tackles and by no means dirty, but the fact was he was off. Lazio manager Stefano Pioli was furious and had words with the referee at the break. Halftime Milan 0 Lazio 1.
For the second half Lazio adjusted their line up for the new situation and took off midfielder Danilo Cataldi and put on another defender Diego Novaretti.
In the 51st minute Milan increased their attacking weight by putting on Keisuke Honda for Sulley Muntari.
Lazio suffered another setback in the 55th minute when Brazilian defender Mauricio was forced off injured, after a clash with keeper Berisha, replaced by Basta.
Milan logically attacked continuously but had great trouble creating goal scoring opportunities. Alex headed wide, Novaretti then made a last-ditch tackle on a dangerous Abate initiative and Giampaolo Pazzini had a superb goal disallowed for preparing his shot with a touch of the arm.
In the 70th minute the Rossoneri took off holding midfielder Poli and threw on a slightly more offensive Marco Van Ginkel.
In general, however, Lazio held up well. The Biancocelesti were organised and moved the ball around excellently. In the 78th minute they could have closed the game. On a counterattack, started by a clever touch by Klose, Keita hit the post with a wonderful low cross goal effort.
In the 81st minute another forward for Milan as Suso replaced defender Albertazzi. Milan now had five attacking players on the field but without balance this can mean nothing.
Lazio made a role for role substitution in the 83rd minute, taking off full-back Konko and putting on Bruno Pereirinha.
Milan piled forward in an increasingly desperate and confused manner and in injury time Lazio almost struck again but Onazi devoured a good goal scoring chance.
Milan did then score with Alessio Cerci but it was clearly offside. After five minutes of added time the referee blew up. Final score Milan 0 Lazio 1.
A well-deserved win and qualification for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had been the better team, more balanced, organised and sharper. They had not even suffered much in ten men.
Lazio were through to the semi-finals and would play Napoli home and away in March-April.
Who played for Milan
Abbiati, Abate, Alex, Rami, Albertazzi (81' Suso), Poli (70' Van Ginkel), Montolivo, Muntari (51' Honda), Cerci, Pazzini, Menez
Substitutes: Diego Lopez, Gori, Essien, Armero, Zaccardo, Calabria, De Santis, Mastour
Manager: F. Inzaghi
Who played for Lazio
Berisha, Konko (83' Pereirinha), Mauricio (55' Basta), Cana, Radu, Onazi, Biglia, Parolo, Cataldi (46' Novaretti), Klose, Keita
Manager: Pioli
Referee: Rocchi
Goal: 38' Biglia (pen)
Red Card: 44' Cana (L)
Sources
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