Milan carve out Coppa Italia lead

AC Milan defeated Serie B club Arezzo Calcio 2-0 in the first leg of their Coppa Italia quarter-final tonight. Goals from Italian international strikers Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi secured the win for Carlo Ancelotti's side although the visitors had a late effort disallowed.

Milan goals
Milan went ahead against the only lower division side remaining in the competition when Clarence Seedorf fed Gilardino with a fine through-ball in the 35th minute and the striker rounded Arezzo goalkeeper Nicola Bremec before slotting in. Five minutes after the interval Inzaghi doubled Milan's lead, racing on to a long ball before producing an excellent finish to beat Bremec.

Grimi debut
On the hour mark, Argentinian left-back Leandro Grimi was brought on for his Milan debut on the day his signing from Racing Club de Avellaneda was confirmed. Nine minutes from the end Ernesto Terra had the ball in the net for the visitors but the effort was disallowed for a foul on Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta. The winners of this tie meet AS Roma or Parma FC in the semi-finals with the capital club leading 2-1, while UC Sampdoria and holders FC Internazionale Milano are also ahead in their fixtures.