Lazio into Italian Cup final

ROME: Lazio reached the Italian Cup final on Tuesday despite losing 3-2 in the second leg to bitter city rivals Roma, advancing 4-2 on aggregate.

A double from Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah on 66 and 90 minutes added to Stephan El Shaarawy’s goal two minutes before the break to give Roma victory on the night.

But Lazio scored in either half through Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (37) and Italian forward Ciro Immobile (56) to book a third final in five years after beating Roma in 2013 for the title and losing to Juventus two years ago.

Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio are fourth in Serie A and still in the running for Champions League football next season despite a chaotic start to the season when Marcelo Bielsa spent just two days in charge.

The six-time winners will meet either Napoli or Juventus in the final.

Meanwhile Genoa striker Mauricio Pinilla has been banned for five matches for striking the referee during Sunday’s 5-0 home defeat by Atalanta, the Serie A disciplinary committee said on Tuesday.

The Chile international was sent off in the second half after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for a tackle and the second for his protests against the decisions of referee Claudio Gavillucci.

Pinilla insulted the referee verbally and made an arm gesture at the official after being shown the first yellow card, the disciplinary committee said.

It said that after the referee sent him off, Pinilla slapped the official’s arm and right hand and directed threatening words at him while being restrained by his teammates.