Coppa Italia champions Lazio sank Serie A winner Inter Milan 2-1 by two quickfire goals within four minutes to take the Italian Super Cup at a nearly full-packed Bird's Nest in Beijing on Saturday.
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The Lazio team celebrates with the trophy after the Italian Super Cup soccer match against Inter Milan at the National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 8, 2009. Lazio won the match 2-1. [Xinhua]
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"Lazio won the game, I should congratulate them. But I could only see one team on the pitch. In the latter part of the second half, the most people I saw on the pitch was their team doctor," said Milan boss Jose Mourinho ironically.
"We controlled the game and created 14 good chances. I'm satisfied with the process and the players. Eto'o played a good game."
"It's a great result against a strong Milan side. We didn't played as well as Milan, but we didn't give up and scored twice. Idont' want to comment on Mourinho's words, but I don't think they created 14 chances and the goal we conceded is due to an error. We deserved the win," said Lazio coach Davide Ballardini.
Matuzalem opened the scoring for Lazio in the 61st minute after picking captain Tommaso Rocchi's deflected freekick in the box. Four minutes later, Rocchi chipped a superb shot at the edge of the area in a counter attack to beat a helpless Julio Cesar.
Samuel Eto'o pulled one back on 75 minutes with a small angle shot on the left side following a defensive error. But the first goal made by the Cameroonian striker for his new club could not change the result.
The match was held coinciding with the anniversary of the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Members of the Lazio team celebrate with the trophy after the Italian Super Cup soccer match against Inter Milan at the National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 8, 2009. Lazio won the match 2-1. [Xinhua]
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Jose Mourinho used a 442 formation with newly signed Eto'o paired Diego Milito in the front line. Milan took the upper hand in the first half against a cautious Lazio, but Sulley Muntari and Lucio wasted two good chances.
Milan launched more fierce attacks after the break. Eto'o and Milito showed good form with a series of individual performances, but keeper Fernando Muslera denied all of their efforts. Lazio showed their efficiency by seizing two consecutive chances despite their rivals controlled the rhythm.
Mourinho brought on Patrick Vieira, Mario Balotelli and Suazo later, and piled the pressure on Lazio, but had to suffer the defeat in the end.
