Inter 2-1 Juventus: Nerazzurri Come From Behind To Progress To Semi-Finals

Inter moved into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia with a win over Juventus, but they had to come from behind after Diego had given the Bianconeri the lead. Goals from Lucio and Mario Balotelli in the second half gave the Nerazzurri a deserved win.

Balotelli threatened as he broke into the penalty area early on before Amauri tried to catch Francesco Toldo out with a shot from range in a lively start to the game.

The first goal of the evening game in the 10th minute when Toldo allowed a shot from Diego to squeeze past him after some fine build up play by Antonio Candreva and Momo Sissoko.


Inter looked to hit back immediately, pressing the Bianconeri defence back towards their own penalty area. Balotelli was energetic as the Nerazzurri looked for a quick fire equaliser, but he could not supply a good enough delivery after Javier Zanetti had weaved his way past three players.

The visitors had a few chances of their own and Toldo was looking shaky whenever a cross was put into the danger zone, encouraging Juventus' wide men to put the ball in towards lone striker Amauri.

Maicon could have equalised in the 20th minute but after playing a one-two on the edge of the box with Goran Pandev, he blazed his close-range shot over the bar.

Both sides' passing was letting them down in the middle of the pitch, particularly the visitors, as possession changed hands easily. As the half went on the Bianconeri were content to sit back and allow Inter to pass the ball among themselves, and the Nerazzurri hadn't really tested Buffon after half an hour. For once, the match seemed to be going in Ciro Ferrara's favour.

Giorgio Chiellini was keeping a close eye on Balotelli and was adjudged to have fouled the young striker just past the half hour mark, earning them a set piece in a promising position, but once again the Nerazzurri's finishing let them down as Maicon missed the target.

Nonetheless it was the hosts that were doing all the pressing, trying to force Juventus into a mistake. Wesley Sneijder whipped a dangerous free kick into the box with 10 minutes left but Buffon was able to punch it away. It appeared as though Felipe Melo also caught the ball with his hand in the penalty area in the dying minutes, but referee Damato chose not to award the penalty.

Half-time arrived with the score still at 1-0, although Jose Mourinho was seen questioning the referee's call minutes earlier when the Nerazzurri had been denied a penalty.

The hosts started the second half in the same vein as they had ended the first, with Sneijder testing Buffon with a shot barely two minutes in before Balotelli hit the side netting after good link up play with Pandev.

However Juventus were nearly two goals up in the 52nd minute when Diego flashed a shot just wide of Toldo's right hand post, with the veteran stopper nowhere near the effort. Minutes later, Chiellini powered a header that clipped the post before it went out for a goal kick.

From the goal kick, Inter raced up the pitch and Balotelli cut the ball back for Pandev, but the shot was deflected wide and Inter couldn't make anything of the corner.

The Nerazzurri were starting to twist the screw and exploit Juventus' fragility, and Paolo De Ceglie demonstrated their defensive weakness when his clearance fell straight to Sneijder, but the Dutchman's shot was blazed over the bar.

Mourinho looked to change his side's fortunes by bringing on prolific Argentine Diego Milito for Esteban Cambiasso, and he was immediately involved in the play but was flagged offside after Sneijder played him through.

With a third of the game to go, Inter were beginning to show signs of desperation. Balotelli threw himself to the ground after Chiellini eased him off the ball in the penalty area, but moments later he forced Buffon into a smart save after finding himself in all sorts of space on the left side of the penalty area.

Felipe Melo then picked up a yellow card for a foul on Maicon on the edge of the area, and it proved to be a costly one. Sneijder stepped up to take the free kick and Lucio stabbed the ball past Buffon for the equaliser.

Maicon was pleading for another penalty when his ball hit Sissoko's outstretched arm, but once again the referee ignored the home side's claims. Juventus were living dangerously at the back and rarely had the opportunity to venture out of their own half, such was the pressure from the Nerazzurri.

The visitors conceded another free kick on the edge of the box with seven minutes to go when, not for the first time, Chiellini brought down Balotelli. Buffon pulled off an excellent save before Milito went down under pressure from Chiellini, but the striker was looking for the penalty and the referee waved play on.

As the clock ticked towards full-time, Inter grabbed a deserved winner as Juventus played for extra-time. Thiago Motta's shot was saved by Buffon, and Balotelli pounced on the loose ball to put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 89th minute.

It was enough to see Inter through to the semi-finals and to place Ciro Ferrara's position in even greater threat.(goal.com)