Fiore earns Lazio lead

Two goals from Italian international midfield player Stefano Fiore gave S.S. Lazio a 2-0 victory against Juventus FC in the first leg of the Coppa Italia final tonight.

Two for Fiore
Fiore scored twice in the second half, in the 59th and 80th minutes, to give the capital club a valuable first-leg advantage ahead of the second leg in Turin on 12 May. Defeat, meanwhile, rounded off a miserable spell for Juventus, who were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by RC Deportivo La Coruña last week and suffered a 3-1 defeat by Serie A leaders AC Milan on Sunday.

Di Vaio denied
Neither side looked like scoring in a tight first period, although Juventus midfield player Mauro Camoranesi twice used his speed to probe down the right and cross for striker Marco Di Vaio, but both shots were well saved by home goalkeeper Matteo Sereni.

Eventful spell
Lazio wasted a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after a trip on midfield player Fabio Liverani, but César's weak kick was easily gathered by Antonio Chimenti. However, seven minutes later Fiore struck his first, volleying Fernando Couto's header beyond the Juventus goalkeeper.

Late second
Fiore scored his and Lazio's second with ten minutes left, hooking in from close range, and Juventus finished with ten men after Croatian defender Igor Tudor was sent off for a tackle on César. Lazio defender Jaap Stam might have scored a third late on, but his header struck the post.