Sunday 26 May 2013

Lulic strike wins Coppa Italia for Lazio as Celtic down Hibs to complete double

                

 Lazio denied Roma a record 10th Coppa Italia win after triumphing 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Senad Lulic at the Stadio Olimpico.

                

The Bosnian scored the only goal of a disappointing game as Lazio took Italy’s final Europa League place. Roma struck the bar moments after going behind but both sides lacked invention in what was a tense final.

Both sides were at virtually full-strength for what was the first meeting between these two foes in the final. Maarten Stekelenburg was Roma’s only absentee due to injury, with the Romanian Bogdan Lobont starting in goal. Mattia Destro headed the Roma attack, with Francesco Totti, Erik Lamela and Marquinhos providing support.

Vladimir Petkovic gave the credit for Lazio’s Coppa Italia triumph to hard work, humility and the right mentality.

“I am very satisfied for these lads who worked so hard this year and deserved the victory. It’s not easy to win a game like this and I’m sorry for Roma, but I am proud of my team,” the Coach said after the game

                      Konko & Marquinho - Roma-Lazio


Lazio, who were without the injured Louis Saha, fielded Miroslav Klose as their lone frontman, with Hernanes and Antonio Candreva charged with providing the creativity behind him.

“It is certainly the most important goal of my career and this win will never be forgotten. To score the winner in a Coppa Italia Final against Roma is just incredible,” Lulic told RAI Sport

                       MEANWHILE


Celtic also won their domestic cup by beating  Hibernian 3-0 in the at Hampden to complete a domestic league and cup double. 

The Hoops rode a difficult start to take the lead against the run of play when Gary Hooper finished Anthony Stokes’s cross.

                          Successful season: Celtic have won two trophies as well as reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League


The same combination saw the SPL champions double their lead and, while Hibs worked gamely to get back into the game, Celtic controlled the match to seal a 36th Scottish Cup title when Joe Ledley added a late third.


It also means Neil Lennon is the third Celtic coach to win the double both as a player and a manager.

                            Intense atmosphere: But Celtic's fans will be delighted with their victory

Meanwhile, Hibs’ wait for a Scottish Cup stretched to 112 years after a second Hampden defeat in as many campaigns, having lost last season’s event to Edinburgh rivals Hearts.


Pat Fenlon’s side started well enough, pressing high up the pitch as top scorer Leigh Griffiths combined well with Eoin Doyle, the former possibly playing his last game for Hibs as his loan spell from Wolves comes to an end, the latter definitely so ahead of a move to Chesterfield.


Former Chelsea and Leeds midfielder Tom Taiwo hit one effort just over, while England hopeful Fraser Forster saved well from a Doyle header as Hibs bossed the opening exchanges.

                     Brace: Gary Hooper's first-half goals set Celtic up for glory

But Celtic took the lead against the run of play, and from then on they were in charge. The breakthrough came somewhat typically in the sense that Hibs have been vulnerable in wide positions all season. And it was a superb cross from Stokes – who should never have been allowed to deliver by Alan Maybury – that picked out Hooper, who hooked the ball past a confused Ben Williams at the far post.

                  Ecstatic: But Hooper is attracting interest from the Premier League

Hooper completed his brace with a near-identical goal to his first, although this time he used his head to bury Stokes’s left-wing cross after more slack defending from Hibs. That pretty much killed off any hopes of a fightback, although Griffiths did flash a low effort across the face of goal before half-time.


The second half was less open as Celtic dictated its tempo, Hibs looking well beaten as Griffiths and Doyle were both substituted after failing to make an impact. Chances were rare though, with Stokes hitting a rasping drive just wide and Hooper shooting over as he searched for a hat-trick.

                      Icing on the cake: Joe Ledley celebrates after putting Celtic 3-0 up

With 11 minutes remaining the Englishman had another chance to take home the match ball, but he was unable to convert Mikael Lustig’s fine low cross. However, Ledley was on hand to guide home the loose ball as he entered double figures for the season, and Celtic put a gloss on a fine win that reinforces their dominance of Scottish football.

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