Lazio secured a spot in the Italian Cup semifinals by triumphing 1-0 against Roma in a heated derby that concluded with three red cards. Mattia Zaccagni's penalty, awarded for a foul on Valentin Castellanos, was the decisive moment in a tense match marked by fan disturbances and on-field clashes.
The victory sets up a two-legged semifinal against the winner of the Juventus versus Frosinone fixture, scheduled for Thursday.
Tensions were high throughout the match, with rival fans exchanging flares, and Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove reportedly hit by an object during a substitution. On the field, Matias Vecino threatened Roma's goal before Zaccagni's penalty, forcing a save from Rui Patricio.
Despite having star attackers like Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku, Roma struggled to create meaningful chances, with Lazio's goalkeeper Christos Mandas making crucial saves.
The climax of the match saw tempers boiling over, resulting in stoppage-time red cards for Lazio's Pedro and Roma's Sardar Azmoun. Additionally, Roma defender Gianluca Mancini received a red card for dissent after the final whistle.
The intense derby sets the stage for Lazio's April semifinal clash and highlights the fierce competition in the Italian Cup. Meanwhile, AC Milan and Atalanta are set to face off in the second quarterfinal, with the winner advancing to face Fiorentina in the next round.
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