The New Nation - Internet Edition

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Two goals in as many first-half minutes ensured Lazio gained a slim advantage from its Coppa Italia quarter-final first leg against Fiorentina with a 2-1 win on Thursday.

The Roman club has endured a miserable Serie A campaign thus far and was dumped out of Europe after finishing bottom of its Champions League group so the cup represents an important shot at silverware.

And things got off to a great start in front of fewer than 10,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico when Aleksandar Kolarov's 20th-minute strike and Valon Behrami's effort a minute later put Lazio 2-0 to the good.

But Giampaolo Pazzini hit back for the Viola six minutes from time to ensure they would still be firmly in contention come the second leg.