Senad Lulic settled a frenzied Rome derby with a composed finish to seal Coppa Italia glory for Lazio at the expense of eternal rivals Roma.
All eyes were on the Stadio Oli-mpico for what promised to be a Derby della Capitale like no other. The bragging rights were at stake, but victory also promised entry into the Europa League and, in Roma’s case, the chance to make history.
However, in the event Roma would not become the first club to win 10 Coppa titles and add a silver star to their shirts, as Lulic’s unceremonious goal in the 71st minute left the Giallorossi devoid of honours for another year.
“I am very satisfied for these lads who worked so hard this year and deserved the victory. It’s not easy to win a game like this and I’m sorry for Roma, but I am proud of my team,” Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic said.
“I knew after all we did and the way we prepared for the final that we had to win. A bit of luck and the right mentality helped us to win this trophy.
“At the final whistle, after four minutes of stoppages, I finally knew we’d won.
“I have always tried to remain the same Petkovic who was before Lazio, with the right humility and work ethic. Slowly the results arrived and I am happy the fans are enjoying this moment.”
Roma boss Aurelio Andreazzoli, meanwhile, defended his decision to leave Pablo Osvaldo on the bench until the final 15 minutes.
“I would without doubt make the same decisions again,” he said. “I wanted responses from my players and a battle emerged on the field that was very hard fought. As often happens in these cases, a moment of luck tends to be decisive.”
The first-half was an intense affair, one thick with nervous agg-ression, and the bitter rivals app-eared gripped by fear. Referee Daniele Orsato showed the first of eight yellow cards in the first minute as Cristian Ledesma introduced himself to Marquinho.
Lazio’s German hitman, Miroslav Klose, had the best chance of the first half as he steamed onto a floa-ted cross to bullet a header beyond Lobont, whose lightning-quick rea-ctions saw the ball flicked up and away to safety.
Tensions quickly boiled over with Klose entering Orsato’s book for his scruffy tussle with Nicolas Burdisso but, to great relief on both sides of the city, nothing had been decided at half-time.
A niggly game opened up for its final 30 minutes, though, with Lulic throwing himself at a Candreva cross to the back post but stumbling into the advertising hoardings. Hernanes’ wayward follow-up almost turned into an assist for Klose but he came up short. A
drenaline levels were increasing exponentially and Lazio finally released the pressure. Lobont had been solid in the first half but he flapped helplessly at a Candreva cross in the 71st minute, and could only watch on as Lulic steered home an easy tap-in.
With emotions running high, Roma substitute Panagiotis Tachtsidis was dismissed from the bench for dissent, before Totti fin-ally entered Orsato’s book as well.
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