© EuroFootball.com
After the winter break, the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup were played. The favorites - defending champions Milan "Inter", last year's finalists "Roma" club, and the "Sampdoria" players who ended the game in nine - won hard-fought victories.
The quarterfinals were opened by the third consecutive Italian Cup winner "Serie A" leader Inter, who played away against "Empoli". The hosts' coach allowed many key players to rest before important Italian championship matches, but the not-so-strong team from Tuscany unexpectedly forced the quite powerful Inter team to work hard.
However, at the end of the match, Roberto Mancini's players showed their mastery and in the 70th minute took the lead after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pass, brought back into form by Brazilian Adriano, and in extra time, defender Ivan Cordoba practically secured the ticket to the semi-final with the second goal after a corner.
In Genoa, the local "Sampdoria" and Verona's "Chievo" met. In tough matches, the hosts scored the only goal thanks to Luigi Sala, who managed to touch the ball last before it ended up in the net after Fabio Quagliarella's shot. The match ended nervously, as even two "Sampdoria" players were sent off the field, but the visitors could not snatch an equalizer and will have to seek revenge in the return leg.
In the capital, the possibly strongest lineup "Roma" played against a young "Parma" team, which had performed successfully in the UEFA Cup. In the 19th minute, after an impressive solo run, the hosts were led by Brazilian Mancini, who deceived the defender from the penalty area and lobbed goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia, and in the middle of the second half, Francesco Totti scored after Mancini's pass.
However, at the end of the match, "Parma" kept hope alive - receiving Maurizio Ciaramitaro's pass and avoiding the defense of two defenders, Zlatko Dedic reduced the visitors' deficit. "Parma" lost, but scored an away goal, and now to advance in the return leg, the team only needs a victory by a minimal margin.
In the last quarter-final match on Thursday evening, "Milan" and the lower league "Arezzo" clubs will meet. The second leg of the Italian Cup quarter-final will take place in a week. Results of the first matches of the Italian Cup quarter-final: "Empoli" 0 - 2 "Inter" 70' [0 - 1] Adriano 90' [0 - 2] Ivan Cordoba "Roma" 2 - 1 "Parma" 19' [1 - 0] Mancini 67' [2 - 0] Francesco Totti 87' [2 - 1] Zlatko Dedic "Sampdoria" 1 - 0 "Chievo" 21' [1 - 0] Luigi Sala 80' Christian Maggio, 85' Ruben Olivera (both "Sampdoria") sent off the field
