Lazio win shootout

Lazio beat Sampdoria 6-5 on penalties yesterday to lift the Italian Cup after the final, played in front of a crowd of 70,000, finished 1-1 following extra-time.

The contest was not just the chance to take some silverware, but also the only opportunity for both clubs to qualify for the Europa League after disappointing Serie A campaigns.

Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera was the shootout hero, saving from Antonio Cassano and Hugo Campagnaro before Ousmane Dabo scored the decisive penalty.

Argentine striker Mauro Zarate put Lazio in front in the fifth minute when he sprinted to the edge of the box and lashed a splendid right-foot shot inside the far post.

Giampaolo Pazzini levelled after 31 minutes when he nodded into the corner after Marius Stankevicius headed a Cassano cross his way.

"I've waited so long for a success such as this one and my thoughts go out to the players who deserve this after a season of so many sacrifices," said a tearful Lazio coach Delio Rossi.

"This (the tears) shows how much passion I have for my work at Lazio, I'm someone who has wanted results for so long at this club."

It was Lazio's fifth Italian Cup success and first since 2004.

Sampdoria won the last of their four cups in 1994.

Italian Cup winners

9 Roma, Juventus
6 Fiorentina
5 Inter, Milan, Torino, Lazio
4 Sampdoria
3 Napoli, Parma
2 Bologna
1 Atalanta, Genoa, Vado, Venezia, Vicenza