Coppa Italia: Juventus win on penalties after Inter cancel out first-leg deficit
Juventus ended a remarkable Inter Milan comeback by winning their Italian Cup tie 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday to set up a final against AC Milan. Inter, beaten 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-final in Turin, rallied brilliantly to win the return match by the same score with two goals from Marcelo Brozovic and one by Ivan Perisic.
Rodrigo Palacio then missed the only spot-kick of the shoot-out, the forward's effort bouncing back off the bar before Leonardo Bonucci's penalty sent Juve through. A weakened Juve were lethargic and unadventurous and the visitors were punished for their complacency as Inter dominated the second leg.
Goalkeeper Neto, standing in for Gianluigi Buffon, handed Inter their opening goal when his clearance was charged down by Gary Medel. The Chilean midfielder, nicknamed 'Pit Bull', appeared to barge Hernanes off the ball before playing in Brozovic who finished emphatically in the 17th minute.
Adam Ljalic almost reduced Inter's deficit further when he struck the bar but the hosts finally made it 2-0 on the night in the 49th minute when Eder's cross from the right was finished by Perisic. Neto was again at fault for the third goal in the 82nd minute as he let Brozovic's penalty go under his body after Daniele Rugani had brought down Perisic.
Milan, who defeated third tier Alessandria 6-0 in their semi-final on Tuesday, will now meet Juve in the final for the first time since 1990.