ROME, 21 January 2004 — Lazio progressed to the semifinals of the Italian Cup yesterday when a Dejan Stankovic goal completed a 3-1 aggregate victory over Parma. The Serbia and Montenegro international, who Lazio president Ugo Longo has said is on the verge of moving to Serie A rivals Inter Milan, struck in the 71st minute, following a Claudio Lopez counter-attack.
Having won the first meeting 2-0 in Rome, Lazio’s players seemed content to sit back and hit Parma on the break.
The danger of that strategy was highlighted in the 23rd minute when home midfielder Mark Bresciano struck a swerving shot from outside the area that keeper Matteo Sereni palmed spectacularly around the post. Parma continued to attack after the interval and had a penalty appeal denied when defender Sinisa Mihajlovic hauled back Adriano in the area.
Stankovic’s goal, however, ended any hope for the home side although Bresciano’s strike nine minutes from time to draw the game 1-1 salvaged some pride for his financially-troubled club. In the last four Lazio will face the winner of tomorrow’s quarterfinal between AS Roma and AC Milan. Milan won the first leg 2-1.
In today’s quarterfinals, Inter Milan begin their second leg game against Udinese with the scores at 0-0, while Juventus take a 2-1 lead into their match against Perugia.
Moratti Set for ‘Back Seat’ Role at Inter
Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti, who resigned as club president on Monday, is expected to take on a “back seat driver’s role”, imitating the approach adopted by the backers of Serie A rivals Juventus and AC Milan.
Moratti quit as president after fan protests followed a humiliating 1-0 home defeat by Empoli on Sunday. Four other board members also tendered their resignations. But Moratti insisted he would remain owner of the club even though he has nominated vice-president Giacinto Facchetti to be the club’s new president.
Facchetti’s appointment would require the backing of the club’s shareholders but that should be a formality given the support of majority shareholder Moratti and Facchetti’s popularity among Inter fans.
The former Italy international was part of the ‘Grande Inter’ team that won three Italian titles and two European Cups.
