Inter Milan cruise past Genoa second string to win Italian Cup

[1]

Inter Milan rung the changes but still proved too strong for a virtual Genoa reserve team as the holders won 2-1 in the Italian Cup on Thursday.

Maicon scored a stunning opener and Andrea Poli finished off a clever move to give the nerazzurri a date away to Napoli in the quarter-finals.

Valter Birsa netted in injury time for Genoa but it was too little, too late for a side that never really got going.

Coach Claudio Ranieri wasted little time musing over the win, turning his attention to league matters this weekend.

"It was a good game, I'm satisfied but now we start thinking about Lazio," he said.

"The players are proud and want to do everything well. That makes everything easier.

"We have to keep doing what we're doing, we host Lazio on Sunday and they're doing well in the league, as are we.

"They've earned more points away than at home, it's a game that will give us important answers."

Ranieri gave the night off to the likes of goalkeeper Julio Cesar, centre-backs Lucio and Walter Samuel and strikers Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini but Genoa went even further by dropping almost their entire first team.

It meant there was never much doubt who would prevail at the San Siro and the suspense was practically ended after just nine minutes.

Brazilian full-back Maicon set his sights from 25 yards and with no back-lift managed to somehow fire a rocket into the top corner, giving Cristiano Lupatelli no chance.

That was the only dangerous situation in a first half Inter strolled through and five minutes after the break they put the game to bed.

Maicon crossed from the right and Poli played a one-two with Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi before volleying home his first goal for the club.

Things were at times so comfortable for Inter that they lost concentration and gave away balls that led to chances.

A wayward pass backwards from Luca Castaignos allowed Lucas Pratto a shot on goal but Luca Castellazzi was down well to save.

And he made an even better stop to deny Cristobal Jorquera when Esteban Cambiasso lost the ball in midfield.

Genoa caused some injury time havoc from a Giuseppe Sculli back-heel that set up Pratto to shoot against the bar with Birsa the most alert to latch onto the rebound and shoot home.

But there was less than two minutes left and Genoa couldn't even get the ball forwards to pressure Inter.