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One of the favorites for the Italian Cup semi-finals took a serious step forward on Thursday in the last match, where the team easily defeated the lower league team "Arezzo" on their home field.
"Milan" 2 - 0 "Arezzo"
35' [1 - 0] Alberto Gilardino
50' [2 - 0] Filippo Inzaghi
Carlo Ancelotti's team did not have one of the injured leaders of the team, Kaka, but after the winter break the coach fielded a quite strong lineup. The "Arezzo" team had not lost in seven consecutive matches in the tournament and fought fiercely, but in the 35th minute their defense was finally broken by a pass from Clarence Seedorf, after which Alberto Gilardino deceived the goalkeeper and scored the first goal.
After the break, Filippo Inzaghi replaced the goalscorer and soon scored a goal himself, when he left no chance for the goalkeeper with a precise shot into the corner of the goal after a pass from C. Seedorf. In the middle of the half, "Milan" saw the debut of the newcomer Leandro Grimi in official matches, but later the hosts were almost punished, as the goal of the visitor Ernesto Terra was disallowed due to the referee's decision of offside.
At the end of the match, Ricardo Oliveira's shot was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper Nicolas Bremecas, so the result remained the same and "Milan" gained a two-goal advantage. The return quarter-final match will be played next Tuesday.
