Late Strike, Big Win: Lazio Edges Milan to Reach Coppa Italia Quarters
4 December 2025
Match Report
Lazio stunned Milan with a dramatic 1-0 victory at the Olimpico, advancing to the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Mattia Zaccagni rose highest to head home a cross from the right, sealing the win for the hosts.
Throughout the first half Lazio pressed steadily, earning a yellow card early after a foul on a Lazio midfielder. A swift counter in the 24th minute saw Zaccagni involved again: a quick sequence from the goal kick found him in midfield, then Tomas Basich cut inside and fired narrowly over the bar from outside the box. Milan struggled to break down Lazio's compact shape and had few clear chances.
Going into the break, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri gestured from the touchline as his side pushed for a breakthrough but found the Lazio defense stubborn. A late first-half moment saw a Lazio corner that almost produced a goal when a shot from distance was saved by Maignan after a header attempt.
Second Half and Aftermath
In the second half Milan showed ambition, with Loftus-Cheek directing a dangerous header just over the bar and Leão forcing a sharp save from Lazio's goalkeeper as chances arrived in quick succession.
Substitutions around the hour mark altered the tempo: both teams freshened their lines as Sarri and his counterpart tweaked their strategies. Yet the best moment remained Lazio's 80th-minute counterattack culminating in Zaccagni's clinical finish, a strike that left Milan stunned.
The late push from Milan produced one more clear opportunity when Christian Pulisic tested the Lazio stopper, who tipped the ball over for a corner. Lazio held firm to preserve the 1-0 score and seal a place in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals, while Milan's campaign in the competition ends here.
