Lazio” data-scaytid=”1″>Lazio needed a 95th minute equaliser and penalties to get the better of Siena on Beppe Iachini’s debut in the Coppa Italia Fifth Round tie.
Lazio needed a 95th minute equaliser and penalties to get the better of Siena on Beppe Iachini’s debut in the Coppa Italia Fifth Round tie. Michael Ciani was hero and villain, but Vladimir Petkovic’s men scrape through to face Catania in the Quarter-Finals.
Modibo Diakite made his first appearance of the season after a contract dispute and the Biancocelesti tested a 3-5-2 system that had already been used in the Europa League this month. The Tuscans opted for a 3-4-1-2, as Iachini had only two days to work with the team before this match.
The first half offered little in emotion as both sides showed each other cautious respect. The only real effort of note came via Sergio Floccari in the 29th minute, but Siena ‘keeper Simone Farelli was alert to the danger.
Siena were showing a new solidity in front of new boss Iachini, who replaced Serse Cosmi on Monday, and it was the Tuscans who opened the scoring in bizarre circumstances.
It was minute 56 when Michael Ciani’s attempt to clear the ball from six yards hit Lorik Cana and ended up in the back of the net.
With little over half an hour left, the Biancocelesti pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Hernanes tried his luck from distance in the 65th minute, but the ball finished over the bar.
Lazio began to increase the pressure but Floccari, Luis Cavanda and Hernanes again failed to get the capital outfit back on level terms.
With the clock running down, Luis Neto was able to divert a Lazio effort over the bar while Siena were lucky to get away with it when the Biancocelesti failed to make the most of confusion in the box.
As Lazio poured forward, it was actually Siena who went closest to scoring again after Marcelo Larrondo was denied by Juan Carrizo in a one-on-one in injury time.
But, with the finishing line in sight, Lazio levelled things up in the fifth minute of added time when an unmarked Ciani headed home a set piece to make it 1-1.
The Fifth Round tie went to extra time
Siena continued to waste chances, as Reginaldo somehow blasted over the bar undisturbed, then he threaded through for Simone Vergassola, who tried to dribble round the goalkeeper only to fire at Carrizo from point-blank range once the angle became too narrow.
Stefano Mauri’s header was straight at Simone Farelli, so qualification could only be decided on penalties.
Carrizo was decisive in the shoot-out, as he performed great saves to deny captain Vergassola and Larrondo. In the final kick, Libor Kozak’s was parried, but Farelli didn’t do enough to stop it dribbling into the net.
Lazio 1-1 Siena (aet)
Scorers: Cana og 56 (S), Ciani 90+5 (L)
Penalties: Mauri (L – goal), Belmonte (S – goal), Ledesma (L – goal), Vergassola (S – saved), Floccari (L – goal), Larrondo (S – saved), Kozak (L – goal)
Lazio: Carrizo; Diakitè (Rozzi 82), Cana, Ciani; Cavanda, Brocchi (Mauri 62), Hernanes, Onazi (Ledesma 62), Lulic; Floccari, Kozak
Siena: Farelli; Contini, Neto, Paci, Belmonte; Valiani (Bolzoni 71), Vergassola, Del Grosso; D’Agostino; Bogdani (Larrondo 54), Reginaldo