Muslera the hero as Lazio win Italian Cup on penalties

Lazio beat Sampdoria 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to win the Italian Cup at the Stadio Olimpico here on Wednesday and qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Lazio goalkeeper Nestor Muslera saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which went to sudden death after both teams missed one each of their first five.

Frenchman Ousmane Dabo scored the winning penalty after Hugo Campagnaro had seen his shot saved.

Argentine forward Mauro Zarate had given Lazio a fourth minute lead but Giampaolo Pazzini equalised just past the half hour mark.

Lazio were off to a flying start when Zarate lashed a wonder strike past Luca Castellazzi from outside the area on four minutes.

Lazio were in the ascendancy for the first half hour and should have doubled their advantage on 28 minutes.

Castellazzi spilled a long range strike from Aleksandar Kolarov and Macedonia forward Goran Pandev was there to mop up the loose ball but Castellazzi redeemed himself by crucially making a close-range block.

The importance of that save was evident three minutes later as Sampdoria equalised through Pazzini.

Antonio Cassano sent a deep cross over from the left to Lithuanian Marius Stankevicius at the back post and his header across goal was diverted in by Pazzini.

Sampdoria came close on the stroke of half-time but Muslera tipped over Cassano’s fierce free-kick.

On the hour, it was Lazio who threatened again but the late arriving Pasquale Foggia couldn’t control his volley from Pandev’s cross.

Both sides then failed to create anything significant for the remaining half hour and even less so in the 30 minutes of extra-time.

Penalties would separate the sides and Muslera made a good start saving from Cassano.

Lazio’s advantage was wiped out when Tommaso Rocchi hit the post and saw the ball run across the face of goal and away to safety.

But then in sudden death Muslera saved from Campagnaro and Dabo stepped up to stroke home the ball and claim the cup.