Serie A leaders Roma booked their place in the Coppa Italia final despite losing 1-0 to a valiant Udinese in an exciting semi-final second leg at the Stadio Friuli.
The Giallorossi had won 2-0 in the first leg and rested several key players so Udinese attacked from the start, with Serie A's leading scorer Antonio Di Natale missing two good opportunities in the first half.
Roma continued to defend well after the break, although Alexis Ssnchez scored for Udinese nine minutes from time to set up a frantic finale in which Marco Cassetti was sent off.
Claudio Ranieri's men were saved by goalkeeper Julio Sergio, who deflected a Gokhan Inler's shot onto the post, while Udinese substitute Bernardo Corradi and Simone Pepe also went close to scoring the goal which would have taken the tie to extra time.
On 5 May Roma will therefore have the chance to become the first team to win the Coppa Italia ten times when they face Scudetto rivals Inter in the final at the Stadio Olimpico.
The teams have met in four of the past five finals, Roma coming out on top in 2007 and 2008 and Inter, who qualified for the final last week with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Fiorentina, prevailing in 2005 and 2006.
The showpiece final is scheduled right in the middle of the last four rounds of the Serie A season, where Roma have a one-point lead over second-placed Inter in the thrilling race for the Scudetto.
Semi-Final Second Leg Results
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Fiorentina 0-1 Inter (Agg: 0-2)
Wednesday 21 April 2010
Udinese 1-0 Roma (Agg: 1-2)
Final (in Rome)
Wednesday 5 May 2010
Inter v Roma (Kick-off TBA)
Coppa Italia Semi-Final Second Leg Reviews
[13 Apr 2010] - [21 Apr 2010]
Source: UEFA
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