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The last two matches of the first round of the Italian Cup quarterfinals were played on Thursday. The defending champion Milan "Inter" successfully started the tournament stage by defeating "Messina" away, while the lower league "Napoli" narrowly beat "Parma" at home.
The coach of the two-time consecutive Cup winners, Roberto Mancini, as usual in this tournament, allowed many reserve team players to play. The Milan team started the match actively in Sicily against the local team "Messina" and, although they wasted several opportunities at the beginning, five minutes before the end of the first half the Argentine Julio Cruz, who has been in excellent form lately, scored a precise penalty kick.
The hosts started the second half more successfully against the weaker opponents, and the "Inter" veteran goalkeeper Francesco Toldo had to save his team from attempts by Mitsuo Ogasawara, Ivica Iliev, and Salvatore Sullo. Nevertheless, the visitors resisted and took away the victory, which will probably make them feel calmer in the return match in Milan.
In the next day's encounter, the awakening giant "Napoli", which is seeking to return to "Serie A" from the lower league, faced the struggling "Parma" team in the last championship. The only goal of the match was scored by "Napoli" forward Cristian Bucchi after a questionable mistake against Roberto De Zerbi in the middle of the second half. The return quarterfinal matches are scheduled for November 2 or December 6.
Thursday's quarterfinal match results
"Napoli" 1 - 0 "Parma" 68' [1 - 0] Cristian Bucchi (11m.)
"Messina" 0 - 1 "Inter" 40' [0 - 1] Julio Ricardo Cruz
