Mixed fortunes for Lazio, Sampdoria ahead of cup final

Lazio and Sampdoria warmed up for Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final in vastly differing fashion on Saturday.

Lazio, who still had an outside chance of qualifying for Europe next season through their league position, were highly disappointing in a 3-1 home defeat to Udinese, who overtook the Romans to close in on a potential UEFA Cup place.

Mid-table Sampdoria, on the other hand, dealt a potentially fatal blow to rock-bottom Reggina in their battle to avoid the drop with a 5-0 thumping in Genoa.

Lazio took the lead 11 minutes into the second half through captain Tommaso Rocchi but Udinese hit straight back on the hour mark through Antonio Floro Flores.

Nine minutes later, Gaetano D’Agostino gave the visitors the lead and when Sebastiano Siviglia was penalised for bringing down Floro Flores in the area, Fabio Quagliarella stroked home the spot-kick four minutes from time.

Lazio then finished with 10 men as Christian Brocchi got himself sent off for protesting the decision.

He was booked for his protests before the penalty was taken and shown a second yellow card when he continued his rant after the goal had been scored.

Daniele Dessena opened the scoring for Sampdoria in the first minute with a rocket strike from outside the area.

But on 19 minutes Reggina had Carlos Valdez sent off for a foul on Giampaolo Pazzini and from then on the 10-men crumbled.

Dessena got his second just past the half-hour and Gennaro Delvecchio made it 3-0 before half-time.

Early second half goals from Guido Mariliungo and Pazzini added to Reggina’s misery.