Immobile fires Lazio into Italian Cup quarter-finals

MILAN: Ciro Immobile scored a first-half brace as Lazio booked the irst Coppa Italia quarter-inal berth on Saturday with a 4-1 win over third-division Novara in a game which was marred by racist and anti-semitic chants from a small section of the crowd at the Stadio Olimpico.

The chanting came from Lazio’s North End and was also aimed at police who had clashed with fans on Wednesday at Piazza della Liberta in the capital when celebrations to mark the club’s 119th anniversary turned violent.

Lazio dominated the last-16 tie against the Serie C side from northern Italy with Immobilie setting up Luis Alberto’s 12th-minute opener for the Romans.

Novara goalkeeper Elia Benedettini saved Immobile’s 20thminute penalty, but the Lazio forward netted the rebound, adding a second 15 minutes later for his 13th goal in all competitions this season.

Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-savic blasted in a free-kick to give the hosts a comfortable fourgoal lead just before the break.

Umberto Eusepi pulled a goal back for Novara when he slotted in a penalty awarded for a Luiz Felipe handball after consultation with VAR just after half-time.

Lazio, who won the last of their six Coppa Italia trophies in 2013, will next play either Inter Milan or Benevento in the quarter-finals.