Simeone Goal Sees Lazio Past Juventus in Cup
ROME, Jan 26 (Reuters) - An 80th-minute header from Diego Simeone gave Lazio victory over Juventus on Wednesday and set them up for a semifinal clash with Venezia in the Italian Cup.
Lazio, 3-2 down after the first leg, won the second leg of the quarter-final 2-1 to go through on the away goals rule.
Venezia knocked Fiorentina out on the away goals rule too after Enrico Chiesa missed a penalty in injury time which would have secured the Florentine team a place in the semifinals. The two teams drew 1-1 in Florence after a goalless encounter in last week's first leg.
In Rome, Lazio took the lead in the 54th minute when Croatian striker Alen Boksic headed in a Giuseppe Pancaro cross. Juventus promptly introduced Alessandro Del Piero as a substitute and in the 73rd minute he found the target when he chested down a pass from Zinedine Zidane and struck the ball home on the turn.
But 10 minutes from time Sinisa Mihajlovic whipped in a corner for Lazio which Juventus goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar failed to meet and Simeone headed into the unguarded goal for
the winner. Lazio had been 3-0 down at one stage in the first leg.
In Florence, Fiorentina took the lead in the 64th minute when defender Daniele Adani headed in from close range. But six minutes from time Venezia's Norwegian midfielder Runar Berg blasted a fierce drive past Francesco Toldo from 20 metres.
Fiorentina were awarded a penalty four minutes into injury time after Fabian Valtolina handled an Enrico Chiesa shot and was sent off. But Chiesa shot high over the bar with the final kick of the game to add to Fiorentina's growing problems and give the Venetian side a surprise place in the semifinals.
