Inter ease into semi-finals

Inter eased into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup yesterday, beating Atalanta 3-0 to complete a 4-0 win on aggregate. Atalanta had knocked out Juventus in the previous round, but looked more like the side that has sunk to the bottom of Serie A as...

Inter eased into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup yesterday, beating Atalanta 3-0 to complete a 4-0 win on aggregate.

Atalanta had knocked out Juventus in the previous round, but looked more like the side that has sunk to the bottom of Serie A as they struggled against a second-string Inter team at the San Siro stadium.

Alvaro Recoba opened the scoring just after the half hour, when strike partner Julio Cruz beat the offside trap and slid the ball across the area for the Uruguayan to tap home. Emre Belozoglu added a second shortly after, angling in a low shot from the edge of the area.

Cruz sealed the result in the 55th minute when he headed Recoba's cross past visiting keeper Alex Calderoni.

Inter's game against Atalanta was played four weeks ahead of the remaining quarter-final second leg fixtures to avoid a clash with their Champions League match against Porto on March 15.

In the semi-finals they will face either Cagliari or Sampdoria.

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