Pro Eleven Headline News

Lazio defeat Juventus to reach cup final

Lazio have reached their first Coppa Italia final for five years after defeating Juventus 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico for a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The Roman club are now likely to face Sampdoria, who lead champions Inter Milan 3-0 from their semifinal first leg, in the final.

Argentine striker Mauro Zarate gave Lazio a 37th-minute lead with a stunning curling effort that gave goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon no chance.

The visitors doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half when a shot from Serbian defender Aleksandar Kolarov deflected over Buffon.

Juventus pulled a goal back in the 64th minute when Alessandro del Piero came off the bench to volley home a deep cross from fellow-substitute Mauro Camoranesi.

The home side finished with 10 men after Camoranesi was sent off, but the match was marred by more ugly chanting by some Juve fans against Inter Milan's black striker Mario Balotelli.

Juve have been ordered to play their next Serie A match behind closed doors after a section of fans racially taunted Balotelli, an Italian of Ghanaian descent, during the top-of-the-table clash last Saturday.

However, the chanting against Balotelli started up again halfway through the first half, prompting the stadium announcer to ask the fans to stop. CNN


A Surprise If Inter Reach Coppa Italia Final - Jose Mourinho

Inter coach Jose Mourinho believes it will be a shock if his side overhaul Sampdoria to qualify for the Coppa Italia final.

The Nerazzurri welcome the Blucerchiati to the San Siro on Thursday night hoping to overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg. Although it seems like a mountain to climb, the 'Special One' has told his players to rise to the challenge.

"We are out of the Coppa Italia at the moment," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia.

"The 3-0 is an important advantage for them. If we get to the final then it will be a surprise for everyone. However, nothing is impossible.

"Sampdoria have been talking defensively regarding this game, it's like Inter talking about the maths in the Scudetto.

"Nevertheless, football is football and everything is possible."

The coach was asked whether the possibility of meeting bitter rivals Juventus in the final acted like an extra incentive for his players, but the coach replied firmly.

"Juve in the final? It's not a motivation more for us. The motivation is getting to the final. Our objective is the final of the Coppa Italia." Goal


Manchester United go three points clear at the top of the Premier League

Sir Alex Ferguson accused his Manchester United players of becoming casual and risking an “embarrassing” anticlimax as they edged to a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth last night that took them three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

After Liverpool’s dramatic 4-4 draw at home to Arsenal 24 hours earlier, the United manager was frustrated to see his strongest available side — minus a “tired” Rio Ferdinand — come close to conceding home points of their own as they allowed Portsmouth back into a game in which they took an early lead through Wayne Rooney. Only when Michael Carrick scored eight minutes from time were the champions secure.

A side showing nine changes to the one knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday homed in on a third successive league title — they have a game in hand on all their rivals — despite an unconvincing performance, although Ferguson claimed that only poor finishing had let them down initially.

“In the first half we played some of the best football you’ll see all season,” the United manager said. “The football was absolutely fantastic but we missed four or five clear chances. We could have been 5-0 up but, at only 1-0, we made it difficult for ourselves. We encouraged the opposition and I thought we were going to throw it away.”

It was not all good news for the champions, with United’s defensive resources being stretched ahead of their Champions League semi-final, first leg with Arsenal on Wednesday. Gary Neville limped off in the thirteenth minute and John O’Shea, his replacement, was also withdrawn, both with what are thought to be ankle injuries. “They’ll be out for weeks,” Ferguson said. The return of Wes Brown, who played for the reserves on Monday, is well timed.

Ferguson was adamant that his players will not be slacking off any more in the home straight. “We’re in a better position than we were yesterday morning,” he said. “But having seen that second half when we got so casual, I’m taking nothing for granted. We’ve got to keep our foot down all the time.”

While Paul Scholes was restored to the starting line-up for his 600th game for the club last night, sliding in the pass for Carrick’s goal, Carlos Tévez reverted to his customary place on the substitutes’ bench and he has admitted that he may leave Old Trafford when his two-year deal expires in the summer.

“Even if you score three of four goals, you do not play in another game,” the Argentina striker said. “There are many very good players here but I need to play. I have trained every day and never said anything against my team-mates or anyone, but it is true that there are other options for next season.”

Guus Hiddink conceded that Chelsea’s title hopes had all but evaporated after a 0-0 draw against Everton at Stamford Bridge that left them six points behind the leaders. “We said before that the two followers of Manchester United must not lose any points,” Hiddink, the interim manager, said. “But we lost two points and now we must be realistic.

“Mathematically there is still a chance, but I think we should follow the other two roads — the Champions League and Everton again [in the Cup Final on May 30]. We have West Ham on Saturday and we will not have the approach to let it slip away, but now we have to focus more on the Champions League games.”

As United regained pole position, one of their former players was dropping down a division. Roy Keane, who resigned from Sunderland in December. is expected to be named today as the manager of Ipswich Town, the Coca-Cola Championship club, who dismissed Jim Magilton yesterday. Times Online


Barcelona blitzes Sevilla

Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - Barcelona regained its six-point lead atop the La Liga table on Wednesday as the club recorded a resounding 4-0 win over Sevilla at the Nou Camp.

Just one day after Real Madrid scored a dramatic 3-2 win over Getafe to close the gap to three points, Barca put together an impressive response with Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto'o scoring goals inside of 18 minutes to send the hosts on their way.

Xavi made it 3-0 shortly after halftime and Thierry Henry added another goal five minutes later to cap the impressive offensive display.

Iniesta had Barca on the scoreboard after three minutes when he collected a loose ball in midfield and was given room.

He carried the ball towards goal and curled a perfect shot into the upper right corner, giving Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas no chance.

The Barca pressure continued minutes later when Daniel Alves struck a free kick that took a slight deflection and sailed just over the crossbar, while Eto'o fired over the net from 10 yards with only the keeper to beat.

Sevilla got a rare look at goal in the 12th minute when Diego Capel crossed to the back post for Jesus Navas, but he volleyed wide from six yards and Barca struck again five minutes later.

A nice build up saw Xavi and Iniesta work a nice one-two with Iniesta taking the return pass inside the box and sliding a first-time pass to the penalty spot for Eto'o, whose shot was tipped by the keeper but settled inside the left post.

Xavi almost made it 3-0 before the break when he chipped the ball inches wide of the far post, but the Spain international didn't have to wait long to put his name on the scoresheet.

Eto'o took a pass inside the box from Iniesta, and he dropped the ball back to Xavi to curl inside the upper right corner.

Iniesta was again involved in the build up five minutes later when he laid the ball off to Henry inside the box on the left. The former Arsenal man dribbled towards goal and calmly rolled the ball inside the far post, surprising the keeper and capping the win.

Valencia continues to chase a Champions League spot and they improved their position with a 2-1 win over Real Betis as David Villa scored twice, Deportivo downed Almeria 2-0, and Malaga overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to beat Osasuna, 3-2. Sports Network