MILAN — Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored a last-gasp winner as Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Wednesday to arrange an Italian Cup quarterfinal in opposition to crosstown rival AC Milan.
Lukaku headed residence a minute earlier than the top of additional time in Florence, simply because it appeared as if the match was heading for penalties.
Juventus additionally wanted further time to beat Genoa 3-2, whereas Napoli beat second-division Empoli by the identical scoreline.
The rating was 1-1 on the finish of standard time after Fiorentina’s Christian Kouamé cancelled out Arturo Vidal’s opener from the penalty spot.
Inter would be the residence aspect when it performs its metropolis rival on the finish of the month. The 2 Milan groups are additionally main Serie A with the Rossoneri prime of the league, three factors forward of second-place Inter.
Fiorentina is dangerously near the relegation zone in Serie A however it took the Nerazzurri till 5 minutes earlier than halftime to interrupt the impasse.
Christian Eriksen’s effort was parried by Pietro Terracciano and Alexis Sánchez hit the submit with the follow-up, however the Fiorentina goalkeeper had introduced down the Chile striker as he unleashed his shot and the referee pointed to the spot.
Vidal then hit the penalty down the center for his first aim for Inter.
Fiorentina was awarded a penalty of its personal moments later when Milan Škriniar appeared to foul Kouamé however the referee reversed his choice after a video assessment.
The hosts did equalize within the 57th minute. In a goalmouth scramble, the ball ultimately fell to Kouamé who had time to manage it earlier than blasting into the highest proper nook.
Lukaku had been rested however he was introduced on within the 69th and, moments after seeing an incredible probability properly saved by Terracciano, scored the winner by heading in Nicolò Barella’s cross from the best.
PERFECT DEBUT
Hamza Rafia scored the profitable aim on his debut to ship Juventus by way of to the quarterfinals.
Final 12 months’s runner-up Juventus, which has gained the cup a report 13 occasions, will face both Sassuolo or Spal.
Andrea Pirlo’s aspect was given a scare as Genoa fought again from two targets down to finish common time at 2-2. The Bianconeri needed to do one thing they didn’t need or count on to do — deliver Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench.
But it surely was one other substitute who made the distinction because the 21-year-old Rafia fired into the underside left nook from shut vary after Álvaro Morata had pulled again from the byline.
Morata and Dejan Kulusevski had scored inside 23 minutes for Juventus, which gave the impression to be heading for a snug win earlier than targets from Lennart Czyborra and Filippo Melegoni noticed Genoa degree.
NAPOLI ADVANCES
Defending champion Napoli was given a scare by second-division aspect Empoli earlier than profitable 3-2.
Napoli subsequent faces Roma or Spezia, which play subsequent week.
Nedim Bajrami twice equalized for Empoli to cancel out targets from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Hirving Lozano.
Andrea Petagna scored the winner within the 76th, handing over a rebound after Empoli midfielder Samuele Ricci had cleared Amir Rrahmani’s header off the road.
Empoli was hampered by the truth that its coach Alessio Dionisi and three gamers had been ordered to isolate after they have been recognized as shut contacts to a fellow passenger on the flight they took again from a match who later examined constructive for coronavirus.
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