Milan make last eight date

By Paolo Menicucci

AC Milan confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 victory against US Città di Palermo in the second leg of their third-round tie.

Goal in each half
Leading 2-1 after the first leg in Sicily, Carlo Ancelotti's side strengthened their grip on the tie thanks to Cristian Brocchi's 19th-minute opener at the San Siro. Danish international striker Jon Dahl Tomasson sealed the win 13 minutes from time with Milan's second goal from the penalty spot.

Samp safely through 
US Sampdoria also progressed on Wednesday night despite losing 2-1 at home to Serie B side Torino Calcio. The visitors - beaten 2-0 by Samp in the first leg - took the lead five minutes into the second half through José Ramallo Franco, but their hopes of getting back into the tie were undone by Vitali Kutuzov's equaliser just four minutes later. Franco's last-minute winner came too late to keep Torino in the competition.

Inter unbeaten
Earlier on Wednesday, Milan's city rivals FC Internazionale Milano continue their unbeaten run in every competition this season as Obafemi Martins' second-half hat-trick gave them a 3-1 win against Bologna FC that confirmed a 6-2 aggregate triumph. Trailing 3-1 after the first leg, the home side gave themselves some hope of getting back into the tie shortly before half-time when Jonathan Binotto turned in Christian Amoroso's low right-wing cross.

Second-half hat-trick
However, Martins equalised early in the second half after Alvaro Recoba's shot had hit the post, and, with Bologna pushing forward, the visitors scored twice more in the final eight minutes to seal their place in the last eight. Martins beat Bologna's offside trap to latch on to Dejan Stankovic's pass and score in the 82nd minute, and the Nigerian striker scored his and Inter's third five minutes later with a powerful long-range effort.

Fiorentina fillip
Meanwhile ACF Fiorentina completed a comfortable 5-0 aggregate win against Parma FC with a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Tardini. All the visitors' goals came in the second period, with Enrico Fantini, Enzo Maresca and Christian Maggio finding the net.

Juve test
The remaining four third-round ties are completed on Thursday, when Juventus FC will seek to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit at home to Atalanta BC. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 26 January and 2 March.