Pippo Inzaghi risks the sack after Milan lost the Coppa Italia quarter-final 1-0 at home to 10-man Lazio.
The winners of this tie go on to face Inter or Napoli in the semi-finals. The game was just three days after Lazio beat the Rossoneri 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A and there were reports Inzaghi would be axed if he lost again. The ultras backed their Coach, squarely blaming Adriano Galliani for their problems with a series of banners.
Pippo Inzaghi risks the sack after Milan lost the Coppa Italia quarter-final 1-0 at home to 10-man Lazio.
The winners of this tie go on to face Inter or Napoli in the semi-finals. The game was just three days after Lazio beat the Rossoneri 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A and there were reports Inzaghi would be axed if he lost again. The ultras backed their Coach, squarely blaming Adriano Galliani for their problems with a series of banners.
Nigel de Jong, Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Bonera, Cristian Zapata, Giacomo Bonaventura and Stephan El Shaarawy were unavailable with Philippe Mexes dropped after attacking Stefano Mauri on Saturday. The visitors gave Mauricio his full debut in defence, but missed Stefan de Vrij, Senad Lulic, Michael Ciani, Santiago Gentiletti, Edson Braafheid and Pedro Luis Cavanda.
Lazio really should’ve scored after eight minutes when Miroslav Klose pounced on a terrible Ignazio Abate backpass, but he hit the side-netting while going round Christian Abbiati.
Soon after another awful backpass from Jeremy Menez sent Keita Balde Diao clear on goal after a Milan corner, but Abbiati sprinted out into midfield with a sliding tackle.
Danilo Cataldi was only denied a tap-in at the back post by a desperate Riccardo Montolivo block. Menez forced one save and had another shot charged down, but Giampaolo Pazzini hesitated on the rebound and allowed Marco Parolo to clear. Etrit Berisha needed a smart reaction save on Alessio Cerci’s chest and volley from close range.
Lazio took the lead from a Lucas Biglia penalty, as Michelangelo Albertazzi handled a cross with his arm out wide.
However, on the stroke of half-time the Biancocelesti went down to 10 men, as Lorik Cana received his rather harsh second yellow card for a challenge from behind on Menez.
Keisuke Honda made his comeback after Asian Cup duty and tested Berisha, while Alex turned a diving header wide, but Mauricio was forced off with bruised ribs after a collision with Berisha.
Diego Novaretti needed a crucial interception to stop two Milan players tapping into an empty net after a great run from Abate.
Pazzini thought he had equalised with a sensational chest and volley on the turn, but the referee had stopped play for his handling offence.
It was almost 2-0 for 10-man Lazio, as Keita saw his angled drive bounce off the inside of the far post with Abbiati beaten on 77 minutes.
Inzaghi’s last throw of the dice was the introduction of ex-Liverpool winger Suso for his Milan debut, but Pazzini’s low strike was smothered and deep into stoppages Cerci had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside in an extremely tight but correct decision.
The Rossoneri lose their last remaining objective for the season and do so against a side playing with 10 men for half the game.
Milan 0-1 Lazio
Scorers: Biglia pen 38 (L)
Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, Albertazzi (Suso 80); Poli (Van Ginkel 78), Montolivo, Muntari (Honda 51); Cerci, Pazzini, Menez
Lazio: Berisha; Konko (Pereirinha 82), Cana, Mauricio (Basta 54), Radu; Onazi, Biglia, Parolo; Cataldi (Novaretti 46); Keita, Klose
Ref: Rocchi
Sent off: Cana 45 (L)