Coppa Italia: AC Milan 2 Palermo 2

Urby Emanuelson’s late equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Palermo on Wednesday.

The Dutch midfielder, a January transfer window signing from Ajax Amsterdam, struck with 14 minutes remaining to claim a draw for his side, although Palermo will be confident heading into the second leg with two away goals on the board.

The night started well for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic giving the hosts a fourth minute lead.

But Palermo showed they would not lie down easily, with Javier Pastore grabbing an equaliser just 10 minutes later.

Things turned from bad to worse for Milan when Abel Hernandez put Palermo in front eight minutes into the second half before Emanuelson’s late intervention saved face for the Serie A league leaders.

The second-leg will be played at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on May 10, with Palermo just needing a draw to progress if they keep Milan to one goal or less.

Wed 20 April, 2011

Coppa Italia: AC Milan 2 Palermo 2

Urby Emanuelson’s late equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Palermo on Wednesday.

The Dutch midfielder, a January transfer window signing from Ajax Amsterdam, struck with 14 minutes remaining to claim a draw for his side, although Palermo will be confident heading into the second leg with two away goals on the board.

The night started well for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic giving the hosts a fourth minute lead.

But Palermo showed they would not lie down easily, with Javier Pastore grabbing an equaliser just 10 minutes later.

Things turned from bad to worse for Milan when Abel Hernandez put Palermo in front eight minutes into the second half before Emanuelson’s late intervention saved face for the Serie A league leaders.

The second-leg will be played at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on May 10, with Palermo just needing a draw to progress if they keep Milan to one goal or less.

Wed 20 April, 2011

Coppa Italia: Roma 0 Inter Milan 1

A wonder strike from Dejan Stankovic was enough to hand Inter Milan a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final with Roma.

A fortnight after his sensational long-range volley in Inter’s 5-2 loss to Schalke in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, the Serbian midfielder was at it again when his rasping drive soared into the top corner just before half-time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma will be ruing a missed opportunity from their Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic, who should have done better with a glorious chance on the 10-minute mark.

Roma have played Inter in five of the last six Coppa Italia finals, with Inter winning last season’s 1-0, and they will play the second leg at the San Siro on May 11.

Serie A leaders AC Milan host Palermo on Wednesday in the first leg of the other semi-final.

Wed 20 April, 2011

Coppa Italia: Roma 0 Inter Milan 1

A wonder strike from Dejan Stankovic was enough to hand Inter Milan a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final with Roma.

A fortnight after his sensational long-range volley in Inter’s 5-2 loss to Schalke in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, the Serbian midfielder was at it again when his rasping drive soared into the top corner just before half-time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma will be ruing a missed opportunity from their Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic, who should have done better with a glorious chance on the 10-minute mark.

Roma have played Inter in five of the last six Coppa Italia finals, with Inter winning last season’s 1-0, and they will play the second leg at the San Siro on May 11.

Serie A leaders AC Milan host Palermo on Wednesday in the first leg of the other semi-final.

Wed 20 April, 2011

Coppa Italia: Juventus 0 Roma 2

Roma has triumphed in the battle of Italy’s two most successful Coppa Italia clubs, beating Juventus 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals on Thursday.

Juventus and Roma have won an equal-best nine Italian Cups but it was Claudio Ranieri’s side who took the honours in their quarter-final at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino courtesy of goals to Mirko Vucinic and Rodrigo Taddei.

Roma’s Simone Perrotta provided Vucinic with the opener on 65 minutes, when the midfielder pinpointed the goal scorer with a cross, before he curled a neat finish past Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari to give the visitors the lead.

Taddei then turned in the sealer in the 90th minute after slack defending allowed the Brazilian to finish from a set-piece free-kick.

Roma join Palermo, Inter Milan and AC Milan in the final four of the cup competition.

Thu 27 January, 2011

Coppa Italia: Juventus 0 Roma 2

Roma has triumphed in the battle of Italy’s two most successful Coppa Italia clubs, beating Juventus 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals on Thursday.

Juventus and Roma have won an equal-best nine Italian Cups but it was Claudio Ranieri’s side who took the honours in their quarter-final at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino courtesy of goals to Mirko Vucinic and Rodrigo Taddei.

Roma’s Simone Perrotta provided Vucinic with the opener on 65 minutes, when the midfielder pinpointed the goal scorer with a cross, before he curled a neat finish past Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari to give the visitors the lead.

Taddei then turned in the sealer in the 90th minute after slack defending allowed the Brazilian to finish from a set-piece free-kick.

Roma join Palermo, Inter Milan and AC Milan in the final four of the cup competition.

Thu 27 January, 2011

Coppa Italia: Palermo edge Parma in shootout

Youngster Daniel Martinez had the final say as Palermo beat Parma 5-4 on penalties on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Paraguayan Martinez, 17, struck the winning penalty after Hernan Crespo had his effort saved and Francesco Valiani blazed over for Parma.

Neither team had been able to find the back of the net in regular and extra time, ensuring the game had to be settled from the spot.

Fabrizio Miccoli wasted a chance early on for the hosts at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, when the Palermo captain sent a tame drive straight at goal.

Slovenian Josip Ilicic also went close, forcing a save from Parma goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini with a volley on 18 minutes.

Raffaele Palladino threatened twice for the visitors in the opening half, before Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio went closest to breaking the deadlock when he headed against the bar from a Miccoli free-kick.

Bulgarian front-man Valeri Bojinov shot wide for Parma and substitute Sebastian Giovinco could have scored twice, drawing excellent saves from Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Argentina attacker Javier Pastore should have snatched a winner for the hosts but spurned two simple chances – one with seven minutes left in regulation and another from close range in the final moments of the extra-time.

Parma’s veteran Argentine striker Crespo and Palermo defender Mattia Cassani missed the opening penalties of the shootout before Valiani fired over the bar for the visitors, leaving teenage substitute Martinez to convert the winning spot-kick and make himself the hero for Palermo.

They will now face the winner of Sampdoria against AC Milan on Wednesday, while in the other half of the draw Napoli meet holders Inter Milan on Wednesday and Roma take on Juventus on Thursday.

Wed 26 January, 2011

Coppa Italia: Palermo edge Parma in shootout

Youngster Daniel Martinez had the final say as Palermo beat Parma 5-4 on penalties on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Paraguayan Martinez, 17, struck the winning penalty after Hernan Crespo had his effort saved and Francesco Valiani blazed over for Parma.

Neither team had been able to find the back of the net in regular and extra time, ensuring the game had to be settled from the spot.

Fabrizio Miccoli wasted a chance early on for the hosts at the Stadio Renzo Barbera, when the Palermo captain sent a tame drive straight at goal.

Slovenian Josip Ilicic also went close, forcing a save from Parma goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini with a volley on 18 minutes.

Raffaele Palladino threatened twice for the visitors in the opening half, before Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio went closest to breaking the deadlock when he headed against the bar from a Miccoli free-kick.

Bulgarian front-man Valeri Bojinov shot wide for Parma and substitute Sebastian Giovinco could have scored twice, drawing excellent saves from Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Argentina attacker Javier Pastore should have snatched a winner for the hosts but spurned two simple chances – one with seven minutes left in regulation and another from close range in the final moments of the extra-time.

Parma’s veteran Argentine striker Crespo and Palermo defender Mattia Cassani missed the opening penalties of the shootout before Valiani fired over the bar for the visitors, leaving teenage substitute Martinez to convert the winning spot-kick and make himself the hero for Palermo.

They will now face the winner of Sampdoria against AC Milan on Wednesday, while in the other half of the draw Napoli meet holders Inter Milan on Wednesday and Roma take on Juventus on Thursday.

Wed 26 January, 2011

Coppa Italia: Napoli 2 Bologna 1

Napoli will meet holders Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after beating Bologna 2-1 on Tuesday.

Algeria international Hassan Yebda headed Napoli ahead nine minutes into the match at the Stadio San Paolo, rising to convert a corner from Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Argentina forward Lavezzi turned goal-scorer on 23 minutes, meeting a cutback from Marek Hamsik before guiding the ball into the corner of the net.

Riccardo Meggiorini won a penalty for Bologna ten minutes into the second half after being fouled Emilson Cribari.

Inter youth product Meggiorini converted the spot-kick to pull a goal back for Bologna, but the visitors proved little threat thereafter and were unable to produce an equaliser.

Napoli, a lofty second in Serie A, will now take on Leonardo’s resurgent Inter side for a place in the semi-finals.

In other Round of 16 matches, Roma meet local rivals Lazio and Sampdoria host Udinese on Wednesday, while Bari visit league-leaders AC Milan on Thursday.

Wed 19 January, 2011

Coppa Italia: Napoli 2 Bologna 1

Napoli will meet holders Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after beating Bologna 2-1 on Tuesday.

Algeria international Hassan Yebda headed Napoli ahead nine minutes into the match at the Stadio San Paolo, rising to convert a corner from Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Argentina forward Lavezzi turned goal-scorer on 23 minutes, meeting a cutback from Marek Hamsik before guiding the ball into the corner of the net.

Riccardo Meggiorini won a penalty for Bologna ten minutes into the second half after being fouled Emilson Cribari.

Inter youth product Meggiorini converted the spot-kick to pull a goal back for Bologna, but the visitors proved little threat thereafter and were unable to produce an equaliser.

Napoli, a lofty second in Serie A, will now take on Leonardo’s resurgent Inter side for a place in the semi-finals.

In other Round of 16 matches, Roma meet local rivals Lazio and Sampdoria host Udinese on Wednesday, while Bari visit league-leaders AC Milan on Thursday.

Wed 19 January, 2011