Lazio rallied to a 2-2 draw on second-half goals by Bernardo Corradi and Stefano Fiore on Wednesday to capture the Italian Cup 4-2 on aggregate over Juventus.
The Turin powerhouse, which won consecutive league titles in 2002 and 2003, ended the season empty handed after coming close to a sensational comeback.
PHOTO: EPA
Goals by French striker David Trezeguet and Italian star-forward Alessandro Del Piero at Stadio delle Alpi had evened Lazio's 2-0 first-leg lead.
While Lazio seemed at the mercy of the aggressive Turin team, Corradi outjumped two defenders to score with a powerful header in the 74th minute off a corner kick by Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Fiore, the classy midfielder who had scored both Lazio goals in the first leg at Stadio Olimpico, netted the equalizer in the 83rd with a precise diagonal shot.
Trezeguet, who is rumored to be heading to FC Barcelona, headed in the opening goal in the 20th off a perfect cross from Alessandro Birindelli.
Del Piero, still in questionable form after returning from a long injury absence, lifted La Juve to a two-goal lead in the 46th, kicking into the open net off save by goalkeeper Matteo Sereni on a previous attempt by Trezeguet.
Lazio's offense was definitely boosted after Simone Inzaghi, the younger brother of AC Milan striker Filippo, was fielded as second-half substitute.
Inzaghi's quick moves put Juventus defense in trouble and Corradi was better supported in his scoring attempts.
Corradi missed two consecutive scoring chances before heading the goal which disheartened Juventus.
It was the fourth Italian Cup title for Lazio while Juventus missed a record 10th win in the competition.
Mancini, who won his first major trophy as a coach, said it was an important achievement for the Roman team after two years of financial problems.
Lazio came on the brink of bankruptcy following the collapse of its industrial parent company, food group Cirio.
"My players were super this season and I complimented them all for tonight's performance," said Mancini, a former star of Sampdoria and Lazio who began his coaching career as an aide to Sven-Goran Eriksson with the Roman team.
Fiore, whose three goals in the two-leg final sank Italy's most titled team, said "it was a tough victory with a lot of sufferings, that's our trade mark this season."
Lazio was coming off a 2-1 loss at Roberto Baggio's Brescia last Sunday that dashed its hopes for fourth place in the Serie A and a Champions League berth.
Juventus secured third place in the Serie A, but this season has been its worst in several years and led to coach Marcello Lippi's decision to leave after Sunday's final league match.
ENGLISH LEAGUE
Newcastle was eliminated from any chance of making next season's Champions League with a 3-3 draw at Southampton on Wednesday.
The result gave the fourth and final spot from England to Liverpool.
With one game remaining for all the Premier League teams, Liverpool has 59 points in fourth place followed by Aston Villa (56) and Newcastle (55). Arsenal has already won the title with Chelsea ensured of second.
Man United and Liverpool get the next two places, but face a summer qualifying round to reach the main phase.
Newcastle led twice, but Southampton came back each time and Leandre Griffit gave the Saints a 3-2 lead just two minutes from the end of regulation. Newcastle's Darren Ambrose scored in second-half injury time to make it 3-3.
Shola Ameobi gave Newcastle a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute, but James Beattie equalized in the 19th. Lee Bowyer put the Magpies ahead again late in the half, but Titus Bramble scored an own-goal in the 39th to level again.
Newcastle plays Liverpool in the weekend finale. No matter what Newcastle does in that match, Villa can claim fifth place and the UEFA Cup spot with a season-ending win over Manchester United.
That result would leave Newcastle, one of England's biggest clubs, without a European spot next season. The result could also jeopardize the future of Newcastle's 71-year-old manager Bobby Robson.
Newcastle was foiled by Saints' goalkeeper Alan Blayney, who was playing his first Premier League game filling in for No. 1 Antti Niemi -- out with a virus -- and No. 2 Paul Smith, who was injured.
Blayney came up with several key saves. Midway through the second half he stopped Newcastle striker Alan Shearer with point-blank header from 3M.
Last week the Magpies were knocked out of the UEFA Cup.
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