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After playing two quarter-final matches of the Italian Cup on Wednesday evening, two more semi-finalists emerged - they became the clubs "Roma" and "Udinese", despite having eliminated Turin's "Juventus" and Genoa's "Sampdoria" teams respectively due to the away goals scored.
2 - 2 (First leg 1-1, aggregate score 3-3) 43` [0 - 1] Antonio Di Natale 59` [0 - 2] Mirko Pieri 63` [1 - 2] Salvatore Foti 71` [2 - 2] Marco Pisano
The 1-1 draw in the first leg in Udine meant that "Udinese" had to score a goal in the second leg, but early in the match it was actually "Sampdoria" playing at home who hit the woodwork with a shot by Belarusian Vitaly Kutuzov.
However, at the end of the first half, "Udinese" broke through when Vincent Candela burst into the penalty area and laid the ball off to an unmarked Antonio Di Natale, who only had to beat the opposition goalkeeper.
In the second half, the rule of "if you don't score, they will" was confirmed again. "Sampdoria" defender Andrea Gasbarroni missed a chance to score and it was Mirko Pieri who found gaps on the left side of Genoa's defense and sent the ball into the top corner of the goal.
Despite the unsuccessful course of the match, the hosts did not give up and soon not only softened the lead, but evened it out: after a pass from the wing, 17-year-old forward Salvatore Foti scored from six meters, and "Udinese" goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis, after a penalty kick, did not manage to clear the ball well and Marco Pisano scored accurately.
However, "Sampdoria" needed another goal, and towards the end of the match the visitors tried to secure the victory, but Fernando Tissone also hit the woodwork. "Udinese" secured the draw and advanced to the semifinals due to two away goals. They will face the winner of the Thursday's match between "Inter" and "Lazio".
0 - 1 (First leg 3-2, aggregate score 3-3) 48` [0 - 1] Adrian Mutu (pen.)
19` Olivier Dacourt ("Roma"), Zlatan Ibrahimovic ("Juventus") sent off
"Roma", having won eight consecutive official matches, was already close to the semifinals after an impressive victory - for the Italian champion "Juventus" club not to be eliminated from the tournament, they needed to win by at least two goals or, with a one-goal advantage, score at least three times.
In the 13th minute, "Roma" scored the first goal of the match, but Francesco Totti's accurate header was disallowed due to an offside against opponent Federico Balzaretti. Shortly after, the capital club's captain once again threatened the "Juventus" goal, but this time his strong penalty shot was saved by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
The tension gradually increased and the players' nerves spilled over in the 19th minute - after Pavel Nedved's foul on F. Totti, a scuffle broke out, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Dacourt being the main participants. Both of these players were sent off the pitch by the referee Paolo Dondarini.
"Roma" continued to attack dangerously, and Daniele De Rossi's header narrowly missed the woodwork, while F. Totti almost reached Leandro Cufre's pass sent towards the goal. Just before the break, "Juve" responded with a shot by Marcelo Zalayeta, which was blocked by goalkeeper Gianluca Curci.
At the beginning of the second half, the visitors took the lead - a penalty was awarded after Simone Perrotta was handled in the penalty area, and Romanian Adrian Mutu converted it. In the rest of the match, both teams had chances to score, with Patrick Vieira coming closest, hitting the woodwork from long range, but the result remained unchanged.
"Roma" held on and despite losing at home and drawing on aggregate in terms of away goals, they eliminated the prestigious opponent. In the semi-finals, Roma's club will face the team of "Palermo", who forced "Milan" to withdraw from the tournament.
