Photo: Riccardo De Luca/AP
Alessandro Matri was the unlikely hero as the bit-part striker scored an extra-time winner against Lazio to win the double for the Turin side. Sunderland won a point at the Emirates Stadium to extend their stay in top-tier for another season.
Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP
It was a record 10th Coppa Italia for Juventus, in a contest which was settled only extra time. Massimiliano Allegri’s men won their 4th successive Scudetto a few weeks ago and Juve will attempt to secure the treble, when they face Barcelona in the Champions League final. Lazio, bolstered by the fanatical home fans in the Stadio Olimpico, took an early lead, when Andrea Pirlo sloppily defended a free-kick to let Stefan Radu head in a thumping effort into the top-corner. 7 minutes later, Pirlo made amends for his mistake, when he floated in a dangerous free-kick, which unsettled the Lazio defence and Patrice Evra, headed the ball down to Giorgio Chiellini, who volleyed home from close-range. After a rather spectacular equaliser, meaningful chances were scarce and both sides were incredibly inefficient in front of goal.
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In the 87th minute, when Matri was harshly adjudged offside, to the agony of the Juve players, as the understandably fatigued players had to play 30 minutes of extra-time. Substitute Filip Djordjevic came agonizingly close to giving his side the lead in the early minutes of extra-time, when his curled shot struck both posts, before being scrapped away to safety, much to the relief of stand-in ‘keeper Storari. Lady Luck simply wasn’t on Lazio’s side as Matri, deservedly got a goal, in the 97th minute, when he pounced on Tevez’s initially blocked shot in the 18-yard box. Matri, widely branded as the nomadic striker, rather feebly sent a shot on goal and although the outstretched Berisha got a hand on the ball, his weak effort saw the ball go in the back of the net. After the winning goal, Juventus did what they do best – defend impeccably. They clogged any potential gaps and Lazio simply ran out of ideas as the game was killed off in expert fashion. Allegri, heavily criticized upon his arrival, has led the Old Lady to their first Coppa Italia in 20 years, efficiently silencing all critics and Juventus are just one victory away from securing a historic treble, a feat last achieved by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
Photo: Mike Hewitt
The Premier League relegation battle, like always, is an exhilarating affair of nerves and bravery, and Sunderland survived the drop after winning a crucial point against a misfiring Arsenal side. A point would’ve sufficed for both sides, especially for the visitors, as both ‘keepers were forced to make exceptional saves. The travelling fans as well as the players were in a state of mass hysteria and manager Dick Advocaat was ecstatic after proving his naysayers wrong. In what will be his last managerial job before retiring, Advocaat let the tears stream down, after he led his side to safety after being just one point off the drop when appointed in mid-March.
Photo: Reuters/Jon Sibley
Arsenal had a massive 28 attempts on goal, but only 8 shots were on target, which is a testament to their profligate finishing. Costel Pantilimon pulled off some extraordinary saves to deny the threatening Gunners attack, although the visitors were somewhat wasteful themselves in front of goal, as Steven Fletcher fluffed three glorious chances. Following Sunderland’s great escape, Newcastle and Hull are engaged in a battle to the wire as both sides need favorable results to retain their top-flight status.
Tags: Coppa Italia Juventus
