Nedim Bajrami canceled out Alexis Sanchez' opener before Empoli went ahead through Ionut Radu's own goal and then, goals from Andrea Ranocchia and Stefano Sensi helped Inter Milan to victory.
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Inter Milan edged past Empoli 3-2 to enter the quarter-finals of Coppa Italia on Wednesday. Inter Milan opened the scoring through Alexis Sanchez early in the first half before Nedim Bajrami equalised for Empoli. And then, an own goal from Inter goalkeeper Ionut Radu put Empoli in front. But the hosts leveled the score courtesy of an acrobatic stoppage-time goal from Andrea Ranocchia. Stefano Sensi scored the winner in the extra-time to take Simone Inzaghi’s side through to the next round where they will meet either Roma or Lecce.
⏹️ | FULL TIME#InterEmpoli is all over! ?
Next round ✅#CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa #FORZAINTER ⚫?
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The Nerazzurri went into the match as Serie A leaders and fresh from Italian Super Cup triumph against Juventus. It wasn’t a great start for Inter as Joaquin Correa had to be replaced with Alexis Sanchez, inside the opening five minutes as the Argentine suffered a hamstring injury. Correa limped off in tears.
However, substitute Sanchez opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Denzel Dumfries played a one-two with Arturo Vidal on the right flank before delivering an inch-perfect cross for the Chilean to head home at the back post.
Inter continued to attack and the Empoli goalkeeper made a superb double save to deny Lautaro Martinez after his own poor clearance. And then, Ranocchia’s header flashed over the crossbar. The hosts went into the break with their nose in front.
But after the restart, Empoli equalised through Bajrami in the 61st minute. Kristjan Asllani pulled it back from the by-line and Bajrami controlled the ball with his chest before firing in from 14 yards out into the near bottom corner.
In response, Sanchez tested Furlan before Danilo D’Ambrosio’s header from the resulting corner went over the bar. Furlan was having a busy night as he parried away an effort from Dumfries. Meanwhile Empoli were creating chances at the other end as Cutrone’s scorcher was palmed over the bar before they took the lead. Curtone’s header bounced off the crossbar and ricocheted into the net off goalkeeper Radu’s leg.
Empoli looked set for an upset win over the Italian giants but then, Eden Dzeko knocked down a Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick, Ranocchia let it bounce and then acrobatically slotted home past Furlan with a flying right-foot volley from 13-yards out to make the score 2-2.
In the 104th minute, Inter scored the winner through Sensi. The Italian midfielder smashed in a stunning strike from the edge of the box to take Inter through to the last 8 stage.
