Milito fires Inter to first-leg advantage
Reuters - Wednesday 03 February 2010, 21:56
MILAN - Diego Milito continued his
remarkable goal-scoring form to give Inter Milan a 1-0 advantage
over Fiorentina after the first leg of their Italian Cup
semi-final on Wednesday.
The Argentine, who has hit the net 13 times in Serie A this
term since his move from Genoa, prodded in from close range
after 34 minutes.
Mario Balotelli had set up his strike partner after
outmuscling defender Cesare Natali but Fiorentina believed it
was a foul and protested to the referee.
League leaders Inter, who beat Juventus in last week's
quarter-final to prompt the sacking of Juve coach Ciro Ferrara,
were not at their best at a half empty San Siro but Balotelli
did have a header cleared off the line among other chances.
Fiorentina had opportunities too, most notably when Juan
Vargas shot wide with only reserve goalkeeper Francesco Toldo to
beat.
Kenya midfielder McDonald Mariga, signed from Parma on
transfer deadline day on Monday, came on as a late Inter
substitute for his first appearance.
The second leg takes place in Florence in April while
in-form AS Roma host Udinese in the other semi-final first leg
on Thursday.