Italian Cup 2008/2009: the trophy is for the S.S. Lazio

At the entrance of the two teams in, the atmosphere of Olympic  is shivering, thousands of flags waving 'biancoazzurre' and 'blucerchiate' sparkling in a Rome mindful of ancient glories, the twenty thousand dorians and fifty thousand Lazians to paint colorful impressive steps and their songs fill the air of contagious enthusiasm, the Italian anthem, played by the band of the Carabinieri, is almost smothered by the roar of all, the President of the Republic Napolitano, in the gallery, notes with satisfaction surprise.

This historic evening, no matter who wins, will be the first time for both presidents Lotito and Garrone, for both coaches Rossi and Mazzarri.

Delio Rossi host its LAZIO with a classic 4-4-2: Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Rozenhal, Kolarov, Brocchi (De Silvestri 13 'pts), Dabo, Ledesma, Foggia (Del Nero 35' st); Zarate , Pandev (Rocchi 28 'st). (Carrizo, Radu, Diakite, Mauri). (Carrizo, Radu, Diakite, Mauri).

On the other side responds Mazzarri deploying its SAMPDORIA with the usual 3-5-2: Castellazzi; Campagnari, Lucchini (Gastaldello by 6 'pts), Accardi, Stankevicius, Sammarco (Dessena 46' st), Palombo, Franceschini ( Delvecchio from 42 'st), Pieri; Pazzini, Cassano. (Mirante, Padalino, Delvecchio, Marilungo). (Mirante, Padalino, Delvecchio, Marilungo).

Not even time to get into that game atmosphere, the 4th, recovered from a ball at midfield by Brocchi on Pazzini, was a terrifying restart, the ball reaches the left end of attack in Zarate, the Argentinian ace flyng, speed exceeds a couple of defenders ligurian is centralized and, by the limit of the area leaves starting to turn a shot that thrusts at mid-left of the prosthesis Castellazzi vain dive, the olimpic 'biacoazzurro' explodes!

Sampdoria accused shot and effort to propose actions convincing battle at midfield, where the contrasts are hard, male, often to the limits, body sparks between Foggia and Campagnari, the referee Rosetti left to run.

Lazio at 26 ° has a double chance to close the match, Kolarov from 20 meters, slightly decentralized leaves starting a missile that comes Castellazzi hardly rejecting fatigue, Pandev is the most lesti of a 5 meter pull a coup sure, the goalkeeper dorian is hyper-reactive, are shooting up again, is arched to his left and miraculously manages to dismiss, the scream choked in the throats of the people 'biancoazzurro'.

As often happens in football escaped the danger gives new life to those who have saved and Sampdoria, at last, it shakes and begins to put the Romans to the ropes, arrives on time at 31 ° to the draw, the band Cassano fishing right on the opposite end Stankevicious in deep projection offensive, Lithuanian, to limit the affects of the head toward the center, Pazzini, marked closely by Rozenhal is very fast to turn head toward the opposite pole, Muslera can not observe that putting the ball in goal, this time it is the turn of celebrate for the clove 'blucerchiato' of  the stadium.

The rest of the time it's all for ligurians, Lazio is all closed in its midfield and no longer able to offer itself being offensive, to 44 ° from the limit on punishment is to force Cassano Muslera saved in a corner.

Skip just one minute into the shooting and still the jewel of Old Bari puts fear aille Lazio, Cassano, penetrated area, leave as a hit cross exceeding Muslera but located on a door that saves Lichsteiner rejecting far.

This time is the Lazio to draw new energy and conviction of the danger escaped, is the big moment for Foggia, which makes iron and fire left the band, manages to get to the bottom a couple of times, but his cross can not find the attackers ready to ' appointment, the Sampdoria who has spent much loses in lucidity and is forced to retreat to the safe and lock down defensively.

We also test the newly-entered Rocchi but the result does not change more, go to additional teams have given a lot, and the lucidity forces are not, the ideas are obscure, the true dangers vanish, the territorial dominance remains Lazio, but Cassano is still a big touch the target with a shot from outside that ends not far from the poles and with a beautiful serpentine in the bottom closed by a kiss on to assist in De Silvestri save in extremis on a Doriano forward.

Admirable and unremitting, for all 120 minutes of challenge, is the support of the fans of both teams, a show of warmth, color and fair play for such years were not seen in our latitudes.

The inevitable epilogue on penalties, with the players, tired, called it a cruel act, the sequence begins with Cassano who is trying to stick to the right of the goalkeeper, but Muslera is responsive and performs the first miracle by rejecting the ball, instead mark Ledesma and Palombo, it's up to Rocchi, his two hundredth game in mesh 'biancazzurra', his shot is very precise, Castellazzi is exceeded, but the ball will break against the internal pole.

Between fear and whistles roars satisfaction with the continuing transformation of Pazzini, Rozenhal, Gastaldello, Kolarov, Accardi and Zarate.

5-5 on aggregate follow with excessive penalties, mark yet Del Vecchio and Lichtsteiner, then it is up to Campagnaro, one of the warriors 'blucerchiati', the undisputed idol of the North Dorian, his shot is soft, a mid, not angled too, Muslera abroad with manon and rejects, the stage is silent, comes close to floppy Dabo, running, shooting dry Castellazzi first, inflate the ball to the other network ....

The choir burst into shouts of joy of the 50,000 fans of Lazio, on the ground is a feast for the players 'biancoazzurri', tears and disappointment on the faces of 'blucerchiati'.

Rocchi and Ledesma receive from the hands of President Napolitano the Italian Cup 2008/2009, you can finally begin on the party of the people 'biancoazzurro', after a game is not beautiful or spectacular, but intense, exciting, male and rich in emotions.

This evening the Italian football has won!

The best: in Lazio Zarate and Muslera in Sampdoria Cassano and Palombo.