Serie A strugglers SS Lazio overcame a stunning opener by Panagiotis Kone to claim a 2-1 win over Udinese on Thursday and book a Coppa Italia quarter-final with holders Juventus.
Elsewhere, M’Baye Niang and Carlos Bacca hit second-half goals as AC Milan ended UC Sampdoria’s interest in the competition with a 2-0 win in Genoa.
Lazio coach Stefano Pioli is said to be barely hanging on to his job after seeing his side slip to 12th in the Serie A, 16 points behind leaders Inter.
Photo: AP
The Italian looked a worried man in the 67th minute when Kone showed great control to collect a cross from deep on the left wing before turning and beating Etrit Berisha with a superb volley at the goalkeeper’s far post.
Alessandro Matri rescued Lazio with an equalizer that looked slightly offside three minutes later, with Danilo Cataldi heading a 79th-minute winner when Udinese goalkeeper Alex Meret spilled a shot in front of goal.
“It was a great reaction by the lads, they’ve been frustrated, but we took the game to them after conceding the opener,” Pioli said. “They showed a lot of character and it’s good to qualify for the quarter-finals. Now need to concentrate on the championship. This is not where we belong in the league.”
Lazio suffered defeat to Juventus in last season’s final.
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