Napoli coach Rafael Benitez believes his side thoroughly deserved their 1-0 Coppa Italia victory over Inter on Wednesday night.

Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game with seconds remaining to stun Inter at the Stadio San Paolo and send Napoli through to the last four.

Napoli, who lifted the cup last season, will take on Lazio next month in a two-legged semi-final.

“We have managed a deserved victory against a great rival,” Benitez told his club’s official website.

“Besides the goal at the end, we played a great game.

“I think this game was a great spectacle for Italian football.

“Both teams wanted to win and we have beaten a side that has a lot of quality and a great coach (Roberto Mancini).

“We really wanted to continue in the Coppa Italia and we look forward to our semi-final against Lazio.”

Benitez was full of praise for Argentina striker Higuain, who settled matters with his 18th goal of the campaign.

“Gonzalo is a champion,” the Spaniard said. “We knew it when we signed him.

“I have coached many great players in my career, even (former Real Madrid striker) Raul and I have to say that Higuain is among the best forwards in the world.”

Higuain and Napoli will now turn their attention to Sunday’s home game against Udinese.

Napoli are riding a three-match winning streak in Serie A, and last weekend’s 2-1 triumph at Chievo saw them strengthen their grip on third spot.

Shocked

For his part, Inter coach Roberto Mancini was “shocked” by his side’s defending in the action that led to Higuain’s stoppage-time winner.

Inter also leaked late goals in their previous two Serie A games, against Torino and Sassuolo, and Mancini was upset that Napoli had also notched late on to steal the victory.

“You just can’t concede a goal like that,” Mancini told Inter’s official website. “I’m shocked.

“The goal we let in was absurd. We shouldn’t have lost this game.

“We played really well throughout the game, but every time we go and hand the opposition a free goal. We were far too lax.

“Higuain is a smart player and he nipped in there before anyone else on the throw-in.

“We were like a bunch of chickens – it was five against one. It was a ridiculous goal to concede.

“We did the same on Sunday against Sassuolo.”

Mancini, who has steered Inter to just two league victories since replacing the sacked Walter Mazzarri in November, knows his team have a lot of work to do, but is upbeat about the future.

“We are growing as a team, but we cannot afford to make so many mistakes,” the former Manchester City manager said. “There were lots of positives to take from this game.

“The players are playing well now, and this is important.

“The young players produced a good performance, and we just have to learn to make fewer mistakes.”

Inter host Palermo on Sunday looking to halt a three-match losing streak in all competitions.