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Napoli logo
Coppa Italia | Quarter-finals
Jan 29, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Lazio logo

1-0

Higuain (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Napoli 1-0 Lazio - as it happened

Live coverage of the Coppa Italia quarter-final defending champions Lazio and Napoli at Stadio San Paolo.
2

A late goal from Gonzalo Higuain gave Napoli a 1-0 win over Lazio in their Coppa Italia quarter-final match.

There were few chances for either side, with Jorginho coming closest in the first half with a strike kept out by the post.

Napoli will face Roma in the semi-finals, which get underway next week.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! It's around half an hour until the Coppa Italia match between Napoli and Lazio gets underway. Let's start with a look at the team news...

NAPOLI STARTING XI: Reina, Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Revelliere, Inler, Jorginho, Insigne, Hamsik, Callejon, Higuain

LAZIO STARTING XI: Berisha, Ciani, Novaretti, Dias, Konko, Onazi, Ledesma, Lulic, Anderson, Keita, Perea

Lazio, who are the current Coppa Italia holders, are without a number of their regular starters for this evening's last eight tie. Hernanes misses out with an injury, while Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose have been struggling with flu.

The home side are boosted by the return of goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who has recovered from an muscular injury. Napoli will be hoping the the Spaniard's return helps them bounce back from a run of recent draws.

Ahead of this evening's game, Napoli coach Rafael Benitez told reporters: "The Coppa Italia is one of our aims this season. My players have prepared well for the game. It's an important test for us and we have the advantage of playing at home. Although we are confident, we cannot forget that Lazio are unbeaten under [Edy] Reja."

In his pre-match press conference, Reja said: "I am forced to make a turnover. It's a necessity. We have no alternatives up front, we have [Balde] Keita and [Brayan] Perea. More than ever, our starting line up will be determined by our doctor. I want to include players that are physically well."

As I mentioned in the introduction, the winner of tonight's match will face Roma in the last four. The semi-final takes place over two legs, with the first taking place at Stadio Olimpico next Wednesday.

Both sides are coming into this match in reasonable form. The home side are unbeaten in their last six matches, but have drawn their last two. Lazio's only defeat in their previous six outings came against Hellas Verona, but they have beaten Inter Milan and Udinese in recent weeks.

PREDICTION! Just before the action gets underway, it's time for a quick prediction. As defending champions, Lazio might be the favourites on paper, but the injuries and illnesses could be a problem for the visitors. I think the home side could come away with a 2-1 win this evening.

The players are making their way onto the pitch ready for this evening's kickoff.

Lazio get the game underway.

It's been a bright start from both sides. Lazio try to get on the front foot, with Keita showing his pace out wide, but he can't squeeze the cross in. The hosts immediately respond with a counter-attack, but Higuain's delivery into the box for Insigne is collected by Berisha.

After a high tempo opening couple of minutes, Napoli have seen the majority of the ball, but Lazio look sharper on the attack. Anderson and Perea link up on the edge of the box trying to find a way through for the visitors, but the home side's defence holds strong.

Higuain picks up the ball on the edge of the box and hits the ball on the turn, but his strike is well off target, giving Lazio a goal kick. He gets another chance just a few moments later, but Berisha is able to stop the striker slicing it in from a tight angle, although he does concede the first corner of the game.

After the initial danger from the corner is cleared, Hamsik manages to cross it back in for the hosts. Ciani misses the clearance, but manages to get it away at the second time of asking.

CHANCE! Lazio have stepped it up following a strong couple of minutes for Napoli. Perea has a shot from the edge of the box, but Reina watches it all the way and is able to calmly punch the ball away.

Napoli immediately head down the other end and win their second corner of the match, but it's got too much power, and it easily taken away by Anderson.

BOOKING! As Anderson tries to break on the counter, he's dragged down by a rugby-style tackle from Joginho, earning the Napoli midfielder the first booking of the day.

There's an injury concern for Napoli as Higuain appears to have tweaked his back. He has to temporarily leave the pitch to have some spray applied, but it looks like he'll be ok to continue. In fact, he has a shot almost immediately after coming back on, but misses the target.

CHANCE! Ledesma tries his luck from range, but it's just high. Keita thinks he's in with a chance from 20 yards as he tries to lob it over Reina after winning it back from the Napoli goal kick, but he's swiftly flagged for offside.

Jorginho tries a long ball forward for Higuain, but Lulic makes the block. Napoli have shown little creativity up front so far. They're getting the ball into the Lazio box, but are too reliant on Higuain, who is being closely marked by the visiting back four.

CHANCE! Napoli win a free kick, which is whipped into the box by Higuain. Inler almost gets a chance to lash it in from the six yards line, but he scuffs his finish, allowing Lazio to clear the danger.

Napoli are starting to dominate the possession, with Lazio seeing little time in their opponents' half in the last five minutes. However, the visitors are still defending well to stop the home side capitalising on their strong spell.

Kaeta makes another good run down the left and tries to cross it in front of the Napoli goal, but it's cleared by Fernandez. Anderson tries to play it back in, but fouls Callejon in the process to give the ball back to the hosts.

Lazio are starting to move the ball better with Keita continuing to look threatening. However, it's Onazi who delivers it into the box, only for Reina to comfortably make the catch.

SUB! Lazio have been forced into an early change. Abdoulay Konko was carrying a knock coming into this match and it looks like he's aggravated the injury, as Luis Cavanda comes on in his place.

Neither side have really found their rhythm so far. Napoli have had the better of the chances, but have lacked the finishing touch, while Lazio have been unable to sustain any pressure inside their hosts' half.

Napoli looks like they're hoping for a strong finish to the opening 45 minutes, but a poor touch from Insigne in midfield gifts the ball back to Lazio, but they're unable to make the most of the opportunity.

CHANCE! The ball is threaded through fantastically for Higuain, but Novaretti is on hand to put it behind and stop the Napoli striker have a simple tap in from close range. The resulting corner is easily cleared. Napoli have had a few corners in this half, but have not been able to pose a threat.

CHANCE! Jorginho tests Berisha with a rocket from 35 yards out, but the keeper sees it all the way and makes a comfortable save.

OFF THE POST! Jorginho rattles the post with a fierce effort from close range following another corner for the home side. Some poor defending from Anderson allowed the midfielder bags of room inside Lazio's penalty area.

Napoli are looking really strong is the final minutes of this first half ticks down, Lazio have barely seen the ball in the last five minutes. The hosts have three minutes of stoppage time if they're to head into the break ahead.

Lazio win a late free kick when Ciani is fouled in midfield. Ledesma takes it quickly, but his teammates aren't ready, and are flagged for offside. However, they'll have a second chance of the referee insists that Ledesma should wait for his whistle. His second effort comes to nothing though, as Dias loses out to Albiol on the edge of the area.

HALF TIME: Napoli 0-0 Lazio

With chances at a premium in the first half, the sides head into the break goalless. Lazio will probably be the happier of the two sides, with Napoli almost taking the lead through a Jorginho effort that struck the post late on.

The visitors made a strong start, with teenage striker Keita looking particularly sharp, but they rarely managed to test Pepe Reina in the Napoli goal.

Don't forget, you can also follow live coverage from the Premier League, Bundesliga, Copa del Rey and African Nations Championship with Sports Mole this evening. You can find links to all of our live football here

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half. Hopefully, they'll both have a bit more urgency about them after the break.

A couple of players are just taking their time returning to the pitch, hopefully they will be ready to get back underway in the next couple of minutes.

SUB! Lazio are making a change ahead of the second half, with Alvaro Gonzalez replacing Ogenyi Onazi.

Lazio get the second half underway.

Gonzalez looks to have an immediate impact as the visitors win a throw in around 20 yards out, which is delivered to Gonzalez. He looks to set up Perea, but he loses out to Reveillere.

Lazio have made a really strong start to this second half, dominating possession so far. Ledesma tries a long ball forward for Anderson, but the midfielder is a fraction offside.

PENALTY APPEAL! The hosts want a penalty as Higuain is sent tumbling by a challenge from Novaretti, but the Lazio defender got the ball, so the referee waves for the visitors to play on.

Both teams seem to be relying on the long ball to create chances, as Callejon tries a deep delivery into the box for Napoli, but it's headed away by Dias, as the visitors quickly head on the counter.

Ledesma has looked pretty creative throughout this game as he looks to set up an opener for Lazio. His latest effort comes following a speedy run down the flank before crossing in, but no-one's waiting for him in the middle.

CHANCE! Callejon has a chance down the other end for the hosts, but he's forced to take it from distance, and pulls it wide from 20 yards out.

CHANCE! Napoli are starting to find their way back into the second half as Jorginho slips it through for Higuain, but Dias, who is having a superb game at the back for Lazio, turns it behind for a corner.

After a lengthy build up with some good passing play by Napoli, Hamsik unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but it's well blocked by Ciani. While Lazio have been lacking up front this evening, they've been tight at the back.

Lazio have their first corner of the night after a Perea strike is deflected wide. However, it's Reveillere who gets to it first, and gets the ball away for the home side.

Napoli quickly win a corner of their own down the other end. Insigne takes it yet again, despite overhitting several of his earlier effort, and it's the same result again.

SUB! That will be Insigne's last action of the game, as Dries Mertens takes his place. Insigne is clearly furious to be heading off, shaking his first at the bench as he exits.

CHANCE! Jorginho, who has come the closest to breaking the deadlock so far this evening, tries a low volley from just outside the box, but if bobbles harmlessly wide.

SUB! The home side are forced to make their final change as Andre Dias picks up a knock defending the Jorginho shot. Giuseppe Biava takes his place. With the possibility of extra time looming, that could hurt Lazio later on, as the hosts still have two substitutions in hand.

SUB! Hamsik, who hasn't long returned from an injury, makes way for Goran Pandev.

The visitors win a free kick from a strong position, around 25 yards out. Keita taps it to a more central position for Ledesma, but his shot flies well high.

CHANCE! Napoli quickly break, with Mertens setting up Jorginho. The midfielder's first effort it just kept out by the fingertips of the Lazio keeper, before the rebound is struck wide.

GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Lazio (Higuain)

Well it's a bit of a lucky goal for Napoli, but they'll take it! Mertens plays the ball in from out wide but his effort is parried away. Jorginho picks it up on the edge of the box and thumps it towards the goal, but it looks like it's heading wide, until it takes a deflection off Higuain. It's hard to tell whether or not he meant it, but it ended up in the back of the net regardless.

BOOKING! Higuain, possibly still a little pumped up from giving Napoli the lead, charges into Ciani, earning him a yellow card.

Lazio have a chance to equalise with a free kick inside Napoli's half, but Ledesma's shot is comfortably held by Reina. Time is running out of the defending champions are to keep themselves in the competition

Napoli are trying to keep the ball as time runs out in a bid to make sure their opponents don't get a chance to equalise late on. However, the visitors haven't shown much in the way of urgency since going a goal down.

SUB! Bleri Dzemaili will come on for the last couple of minutes, taking the place of Jorginho, who set up the Napoli goal. Meanwhile, there will be three minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! Higuain pulls the ball back from deep in the penalty area for Pandev, but the substitute is offside. He taps it in anyway in frustration, knowing that that could have sealed the win. Lazio have a chance down the other end, but Reveillere gets it clear.

FULL TIME: Napoli 1-0 Lazio

The Coppa Italia champions are out thanks to a late goal from Gonzalo Higuain, setting up a semi-final meeting with Roma.

In a match where chances were limited, it almost seems fitting that a goalline scramble and what may have been an accidental deflection seals the win for the home side. In truth, it was a very quiet night for Pepe Reina, with Lazio creating very few goal-scoring opportunities.

Well that's all from this match, but stick around for reports from games from across Europe this evening, and join us again next week for the first legs of the semi-finals. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

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