Mauro Zarate and Goran Pandev played an important part in yesterday’s Coppa Italia match as Lazio sent Milan packing early. This year, the Rossoneri were deemed to be somewhat the team to beat but as it seems to be, Inter have remained that team and the other will have to challenge hard. Milan failed to lift up their spirits after being held 2-2 by Portsmouth, losing 3-1 to Palermo and then losing 2-1 to Lazio and bowing out of the Cup.
Andry Shevchenko’s return to scoring ways with Milan did not bring them any luck at all. The Ukranian opened the score on 78 minutes. At that time, Milan were already down to 10-men as Emerson had been sent off in th 65th minute for a second yellow. Yet somehow Milan still kept the pressure and managed to score the opener.
Lazio however proved that they were no pushovers and Zarate sent Lazio fans into ecstacy by scoring the equaliser 2 minutes from end of regular time. The match finished 1-1 at 90 minutes and extra-time was next.
Zarate had his shot momentarily parried by Dida but Pandev did no mistake in scoring Lazio’s second. Ronaldinho then went on to hit the crossbar from a free-kick as Milan tried everything but to no avail.
Lazio now progress to the next stage of the Coppa Italia while Milan are left with the Scudetto and Uefa Cup.
Teams
Milan: Dida, Antonini (Jankulovski 74), Senderos, Kaladze, Favalli; Flamini, Emerson, Seedorf (Zambrotta 74), Kakà, Ronaldinho, Shevchenko (Cardacio 85).
Lazio: Muslera; Lichtsteiner (Meghni 42), Rozehnal, Diakitè, Kolarov; Dabo (Mauri 84), Ledesma, De Silvestri; Rocchi (Zarate 73); Foggia, Pandev.
