Inter Milan cruised into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup when
they beat Empoli 2-0 to complete a 4-0 win on aggregate on
Wednesday.
The holders went ahead in the 28th minute, when winger Mariano
Gonzalez curled in a low ball from the right and Esteban Cambiasso
ran in unmarked to the far post to angle in a shot.
Italy defender Fabio Grosso scored the second with a powerful
left-footed shot 13 minutes from the end.
In the semi-finals they will face four-times winners Sampdoria,
who beat Chievo 2-1 for a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Sampdoria never looked like losing after Fabio Bazzani hit the
post and Emiliano Bonazzoli tapped in the rebound in the 42nd
minute.
Chievo midfielder Michele Marcolini pulled one back but five
minutes from the end Gennaro Delvecchio headed in a free kick to
restore Sampdoria's two-goal cushion.
AS Roma squeezed through when a late goal by David Pizarro gave
them a 2-2 draw with Parma to earn a 3-2 aggregate win.
Roma struggled to subdue Parma who struck in the 11th minute
when Swedish striker Zlatan Muslimovic crept in front of his marker
to nod a low cross into the top corner of Roma's net.
Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi headed in a Pizarro free kick
to bring Roma level on the half hour but Muslimovic struck again
just before halftime.
In the 85th minute Pizarro took advantage of a short clearance
to beat Parma keeper Fabio Virgili with a low drive from the edge
of the area.
In the remaining quarter-final, AC Milan take a 2-0 lead into
the second leg against Arezzo (Thursday, 2000 GMT).
(China Daily via Reuters January 18, 2007)