This Wednesday the Italian Cup saw its fourth and last team qualified to the semifinals. It is Internazionale, who defeated Fiorentina 2-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan. The next rival, in a two-legged match, will be Napoli, who last week had eliminated Lazio, the current champions, with a 1-0 win in Naples.
With maximum strength, including the English Ashley Young amongst the starters and brand new signing Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen on the bench, Inter Milan showed strength in the first half and pressed Fiorentina.
However, even despite the good chances created, the hosts only managed to open the scoring in the final minutes, through a 44th-minute goal by Antonio Candreva.
In the second half, Eriksen was introduced and had some good moments with the ball.
In search of a draw, Fiorentina came back from the break with a more offensive stance and got the equalizer with the header from Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres in the 60th minute.
What the Florence team did not expect was the quick reaction from hosts Inter, who grabbed the winning goal and qualified for the semifinals through young midfielder Nicolo Barella.
By determination of a draw carried out at the beginning of the season, Napoli will have the right to decide the place in the final at home. Thus, the first duel will be in Milan, on February 12th. The second leg, on March 4, will take place at the San Paolo stadium in Naples.
The decision of the Italian Cup will be in a single game on May 13, at the Stadio Olimpico di Roma. On the other side of the brace are AC Milan – who eliminated Torino with a 4-2 win – and Juventus – who beat Roma 3-1 -, with the Turin side having the advantage of playing the second semifinal match at home in Turin.