(Football news) Inter Milan brushed off their disappointing loss against their noisy neighbours to progress into the semifinals of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 win over AS Roma. Alexis Sanchez and Edin Dezko’s strikes sealed Internazionale's 2-0 Coppa Italia quarter final after Jose Mourinho received a hero's welcome at San Siro in his first game as an opposing coach at his former club.
Edin Dzeko scored from a powerful volley inside the opening two minutes to put Inter ahead, as Nicolo Barella was inches away from a second when his shot smashed off against the bar. Alexis Sanchez lashed a shot right into the top corner from 25 yards after the break to set up a potential mouthwatering semifinal against AC Milan or Lazio. It was an emotional as well as special night for the “special one” as he had led Inter to back-to-back Serie A titles and a historic Treble during the two seasons he was at Inter between 2008 and 2010. The home fans kept singing his name and unveiled a banner saying: "Welcome home Jose."
It was less than two minutes on the clock when ex-Roma striker Dzeko went on to haunt them when he got on the end of an Ivan Perisic cross and beautifully volleyed home a crucial goal. Nicolo Zaniolo drew a couple of good saves from Samir Handanovic as Roma responded well. Both goalkeepers impressed after the break as Samir Handanovic reacted well to tip over a deflected strike and Rui Patricio made a brilliant save off Barella's effort. Skriniar made an extraordinary glancing header clearance off the line after Zaniolo had beaten Handanovic and curled a shot at goal from a tight angle. But Inter's nerves were settled in the 68th minute, when Sanchez found space on the edge of the box to unleash a missile of a finish.
"The way they welcomed me here, the directors gave me a beautiful gift and then the fans were very nice to me, this is the emotional side. I can only say thank you. I will never hide my eternal relationship with Inter. But I came here to win, for my Roma and my people, and we didn't manage to. Apart from the first five minutes we played very well" Mourinho said.
"The guys did very well because it wasn't a simple match,.Roma have quality and a great squad, but we deserved to reach the semi-final, knowing that we are coming off a big setback. To organise a game like this after two-and-a-half days wasn't easy" said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
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