Like that afternoon of 26 May 2013 in the final against Roma, likewise yesterday evening at the San Paolo in the semifinal against Napoli: the man of the Italian Cup for Lazio is still Senad Lulic. Thanks to another decisive goal by the Bosnian midfielder, the Biancocelesti won the second leg 1-0 (after a 1-1 draw at the Olimpico) and thus eliminated Benitez's team, earning a double trophy-match against Juventus: not only the Tim Cup final, but also the one for the Italian Super Cup, given that the Scudetto is now a formality for the Bianconeri.
The success of the capitolini comes at the end of a tense competition, packed for long stretches and lit up in flashes by flames of play. In the first half, Napoli nearly took the lead with Gabbiadini, who hit the post from a free kick. Lazio responds with a right-footed shot from afar by Candreva just outside. It was 0-0 at the break and at the start of the second half it was the hosts who pushed the accelerator: the two most sensational goals scored ended up on Higuaìn's feet, but Pipita, who usually got excited against the Biancocelesti, wasn't exactly in the evening.
The turning point in the match is linked to two tactical moves by Pioli, who passes from 4-3-3 to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 (with Mauri – who replaced Cataldi – behind Klose) and reverses the position in Felipe Anderson's field, subtracting him from Maggio's marking and putting him in front of Ghoulam, a full-back much easier to jump in speed.
The assist for Lulic's comfortable tap-in (recently replacing Candreva) starts right from the Brazilian's right foot, who mocks Albiol and Britos in the center, closing in the net in the 79th minute a flawed action from an offside close. The same Bosnian, 10 minutes later, saves a ball kicked by Insigne on the line after a great personal action.
Who is the man of the match is obvious, but “the team's performance against a strong opponent like Napoli should be underlined – comments Pioli at the end of the match -. I think we deserve to go to the final, after having also won in Turin against Toro and in Milan against Milan”.
As for Benitez, the Spanish coach has clear ideas on what his team is missing in this period: “The goal. We had at least seven chances to score, but we didn't succeed, while they finally did." Now there are two objectives for Napoli: the Europa zone in the championship (where the Azzurri have slipped to sixth position, one point behind Sampdoria and two points behind Fiorentina) and the Europa League, where the obstacle has to be overcome in the quarterfinals Wolfsburg. “Today we created – comments Benitez -. We have to keep doing it. But also to score goals”.
