Udinese mesmerise Milan

By Paolo Corradini

Stefano Mauri scored twice as Udinese Calcio defeated AC Milan 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia 6-4 on aggregate. Serie A's fifth-placed side will play AS Roma, who earlier in the day overcame ACF Fiorentina after a penalty shoot-out.

Mauri double
Milan won the first leg 3-2, but Vincenzo Iaquinta turned the tie in Udinese's favour when he scored on 20 minutes. Milan's problems were compounded 14 minutes later when defender Jaap Stam was forced off with a muscle injury. Mauri doubled Udinese's lead 15 minutes after the break, and though Jon Dahl Tomasson briefly brought Milan back into the match with a 77th-minute strike, Udinese finished on a high.

Dhorasoo injured
David Di Michele restored the home side's two-goal lead on the night from the penalty spot with nine minutes to play before Mauri added his second and Udinese's fourth four minutes into added time. The Italian champions had to play the last 20 minutes with only ten men after Vikash Dhorasoo hobbled off injured.

Conti joy
Earlier, local hero Bruno Conti had earned his first success as Roma coach as his side knocked Fiorentina out of the competition despite losing Wednesday's second leg 1-0. Fiorentina went ahead after eleven minutes thanks to defender Matteo Ferrari's own goal, but Roma, 1-0 winners in the first leg, held firm to force the game into extra time. Roma then had both Ferrari and midfield player Daniele De Rossi sent off, but Conti's side were still able to force a shoot-out, prevailing after Fabrizio Miccoli and Tomáš Ujfaluši missed their spot-kicks.

Sampdoria challenge
UC Sampdoria are at home to Cagliari Calcio in the fourth quarter-final tie on Thursday looking to reverse a 2-0 first-leg deficit. The winner will face FC Internazionale Milano in the last four. Inter secured their place in the semi-finals last month with victory against Atalanta BC.