Incredibly, and against all the odds, Lazio defeated Inter Milan by 2 goals to 1 in China today to lift the Italian Super Cup. This was the Rome club's third Italian Super Cup title in nine years, in which the Scudetto winners are pitted against the Coppa Italia winners.
Incredible win after Inter dominated
Lazio went into this game minus two of their best players in Goran Pandev and Cristian Ledesma who currently are back in Rome sorting out their futures with the club. Indeed, this was their first real competitive match of the summer, with their last match being a 13-0 victory against Spal. However, their was still great quality available to Davide Ballardini with Mauro Zarate, Alexander Kolarov and Francelino Matuzalem boarding the flight to China. However, the Inter Juggernaut looked even more menacing this time around for Lazio than it did when they twice mauled the Aquilotti last season in the league.
However, Matuzalem showed signs of intent early on when he crashed a thunderous shot over the bar from distance in the early going. However, it did not take long for Inter to get going. Lucio, a summer signing from Bayern Munich, headed over from a corner to put the Aquilotti under pressure. Yet, the best chance of the match so far fell to Mauro Zarate around the 20 minute marker when he weaved through the Inter defence to test Julio Cesar from just outside the box. It took a magnificent save to keep the scores level. However, an even better chance fell to Sulley Muntari later on in the half when he was clean through on goal but he blasted well over. Inter were on top, and it took a great save from Nando Muslera from a Lucio header to keep the scores even at half time.
After the break Inter continued on their war path. Sulley Muntari tested Muslera with a effort from distance before Lucio again went close from a corner, proving what a good acquisition he was this summer. Incredibly new signing Eto'o missed an open goal ten minutes into the first half, as he latched onto a Diakite back pass. However, the angle was tight and he was under pressure. However, against Inter's dominance Lazio took the lead from a Kolarov freekick that was deflected into the path of Matuzalem. His shot bounced back off Julio Cesar and bounced off Matuzalem into the back of the net. 1-0 Lazio. The lead was doubled minutes later through a moment of genius. A splendid pass from Mauri was chested down by Tommaso Rocchi who then lobbed Julio Cesar with the outside of his boot from 25 yards out. Vieira and Balotelli were introduced and on 78 minutes Samuel Eto'o showed why he is considered the best forward in the world. Dabo made a dreadful error allowing Balotelli to take the ball and feed Eto'o, who smashed home on the half volley with his left foot leaving Muslera with absolutely no chance. Inter scored again moments later through Diego Milit, however it connected to Eto'o foot who was in an offside position at the time. Lazio held on for the win against the Italian Champions to perhaps spark optimism in the blue half of Rome as to what to expect next season, especially as a number of their best players did not play.
Match highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISY6Sbdmid4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1i6S_qzqOQ
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