Inter, Roma and Milan have eased their way through to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia following comfortable aggregate victories. Sampdoria and Arezzo claimed notable scalps, while Chievo, Empoli and Parma scraped thorugh.The current holders, Inter, qualified for the last eight after clinically disposing of Sicilian outfit Messina on Wednesday evening. Following a 1-0 victory in the first leg, Inter ran out 5-0 aggregate winners after a romp at the San Siro. Nicolas Burdisso scored the first and last goals of the contest, with his efforts sandwiching strikes from Mariano Gonzalez and Marco Andreolli as Inter cruised through.
Earlier Roma eased into the quarter finals with a 4-1 aggregate win over Triestina. Having secured a 2-1 win in the first leg, the Serie A title chasers eased through thanks to a 2-0 win. Roma took the game by the scruff of the neck in the opening 30 minutes, as Valerio Virga fired them ahead. The killer second goal came on 27 minutes, as Vincenzo Montella found the target to fire Roma into the last eight.
Milan moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 aggregate victory over Brescia on Tuesday night. Having claimed a 4-2 win in the first leg, Carlo Ancelotti's side ran out 2-1 winners on Tuesday to ease through. Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira set Milan on their way when heading home a corner on 15 minutes. The Serie B outfit contributed to their own downfall, as Davide Zoboli turned a cross from Yoann Gourcuff into his own net on 20 minutes. Marek Hamsik pulled a goal back for the visitors before the break, but it was not enough to knock Milan off their stride.
Sampdoria claimed a notable scalp on Thursday as they won 3-2 in Sicily against Palermo to register a 4-2 aggregate victory to book their place in the last eight. After winning 1-0 in the first leg in Genova, Palermo appeared to be favourites - but it was not to be. Samp were 3-0 up just before the hour mark as goals from Francesco Flachi and Cristian Zenoni set them on their way. Roberto Guana gave Palermo some hope on 64 minutes, but they could only muster one more effort from Franco Brienza. They failed to take advantage of an extra man for the final 17 minutes as Giulio Falcone was sent off.
Samp will now play Chievo in the quarter finals after they drew 1-1 with Reggina in Verona. The first leg ended 2-2 in Reggio de Calabria, so that meant the scoreline on Thursday afternoon was enough for Chievo to go through on the away goals rule. Simone Tribocchi had given Flying Donkeys the lead after just ten minutes, but Reggina levelled with four minutes left through Antonio Giosa.
Serie B basement side Arezzo booked their quarter-final place against Milan as they knocked out top-flight opponents Livorno with a surprise 3-2 aggregate win. Arezzo drew 1-1 at Livorno to make the last eight of the competition as striker Antonio Floro Flores equalised 11 minutes from time after Paulinho had put the home side in front in the 42nd minute. Arezzo, who won the first leg of the clash 2-1, are wedged to the bottom of the Serie B table with two points while Livorno are fourth in Serie A.
Empoli won 1-0 at Genoa after an 18th minute penalty from Nicola Pozzi handed them a 2-0 aggregate win. The Rossoblu came out fighting with early chances wasted by Juric, Forestrieri and Tavares when they were clear on goal. They were made to pay for those mistakes, as on 17 minutes Rubinho rushed out to bring down Pozzi for a penalty. Empoli will now play the holders Inter in the quarter-finals.
Parma progressed courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Napoli, which secured a 3-2 aggregate success. The three-times competition winners were always too strong for their Serie B counterparts, with the reward for some early pressure a goal on the stroke of half-time, when Luca Cigarini dispatched a penalty, after Zlatko Dedic had been fouled. Bosnian striker Dedic was the star of the second-half too, when he grabbed a double to put Parma in complete control by the 66th minute. Samuele Dalla Bona made for a nervy finale when he etched his name on the scoresheet for the Serie B leaders, but Napoli's efforts proved in vain, as their night was compounded when Gyorgy Garics was sent-off for a foul on Dedic. Last years finalists Roma await in the Last 8 for Parma.
The quarter-final matches will take place on the week commencing January 8 2007, with the return legs a week later.
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