Juve win record tenth Coppa Italia
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| AFP |
Substitute Alessandro Matri netted an extra time winner as Juventus defeated Lazio 2-1 in the Coppa Italia final in Rome to keep their hopes of a historic treble alive.
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, acting as captain on the night, cancelled out Lazio captain Stefan Radu's opener in the 11th minute. Both sides had chances to win the game in normal time but could not find the finishing touch. Matri came to the rescue seven minutes into the first half of extra time when he struck the ball from ten yards to beat Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha and hand the Serie A champions their tenth Coppa Italia and first in 20 years.
Witthout suspended striker Alvaro Morata, whose goals against Real Madrid lifted Juve into the UEFA Champions League final on 6 June, coach Massimiliano Allegri fielded Fernando Llorente alongside Serie A's top scorer Carlos Tevez in attack. Lazio got off to a great start and went in front when Radu headed Danilo Cataldi's free-kick past Juventus goalkeeper Marco Storari.
Juve pulled level soon after. Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was knocked down by Patrice Evra, leaving Chiellini to smash the ball from six yards and beat Berisha. In the 25th minute, Llorente headed Evra's cross over the bar. Two minutes later and a fast counter-attack by Lazio saw Felipe Anderson send Cataldi through on goal but his effort lacked pace and did not trouble Berisha. Before the interval, Marco Parolo's stinging drive from 25 yards went wide of the far post.
One minute after the re-start, Berisha had to come off his line to clear a dangerous ball with Llorente ready to pounce. In the 55th minute, Tevez fed Paul Pogba in the box and the Frenchman's goal-bound attempt was blocked by a defender. Lazio struggled to break Juve's defence and were limited to shooting from outside of the area.
Before the hour, Parolo drilled a right-footed strike that went over the bar while, minutes later, Gentiletti's powerful free-kick found the stands. Lazio pushed forward more aggressively and came close to scoring before the end of regulation. In the 84th minute, Lazio substitute Filip Djordjevic had a great opportunity but failed to beat Storari in a one-on-one, with his shot kept out by the keeper.
Three minutes later and Matri had a goal disallowed for offside. Lazio could not believe their luck once play resumed when Djordjevic's left-footed strike beat Storari but hit both posts. Juve then found the winner. Matri pounced on a loose ball in Lazio's area and struck a ten-yard bullet to beat Berisha. Lazio could not find a way through as Juve held on for victory at the Stadio Olimpico.