Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi scored as Lazio rallied to beat Juventus 2-1 in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals yesterday.

Marco Marchionni scored for Juventus in the 34th minute from the edge of the area, Pandev equalized in the 65th and Rocchi gave Lazio the lead in the 78th.

Pandev took a rebound and spun around before finding the target from the center of the area, while Rocchi beat defender Giorgio Chiellini to a ball inside the area and shot under goalkeeper Alexander Manninger.

Juventus forward Vincenzo Iaquinta had a goal annulled for a questionable offside call in the 18th and Manninger made a leaping save on a free kick from Cristian Ledesma in the 39th.

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sat out.

Lazio forward Mauro Zarate, who scored twice in a 2-0 win over Bologna on Saturday, was suspended.

Inter Milan visits Sampdoria in the other semifinal today. The return legs are scheduled for April 21 and 22, with the final on May 13 in Rome.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 4, 2009)