Inter - Juventus [ 2 - 1 ]

Lucio and Mario Balotelli's last-gasp goal turned the Coppa Italia quarter-final around after Diego had given Juventus the lead. Inter go on to face Fiorentina in the final four.

There was an unusual atmosphere around the Derby d'Italia, as many expected it to be Ciro Ferrara's last match on the Bianconeri bench. The injury crisis ruled out Mauro Camoranesi, David Trezeguet, Hasan Salihamidzic, Alessandro Del Piero, Claudio Marchisio and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Antonio Candreva received his first start. The Nerazzurri made a few changes, but overall fielded a nearly full-strength team, resting Diego Milito, Julio Cesar and Walter Samuel.

Juventus took a shock lead after 10 minutes with a truly strange goal. Diego's shot from the edge of the box incredibly squirmed between Francesco Toldo's arms and through his legs for an absolute howler! The veteran goalkeeper had to smile and shake his head, then apologised to the fans for this astounding error.

Inter fought back immediately with Gigi Buffon pushing a Mario Balotelli strike round the base of the near post.

Toldo was a little more secure on Diego's free kick, but still needed two touches to get it under control, then flapped weakly at a cross. Goran Pandev exchanged passes with Douglas Maicon, but the Brazilian blasted over from six yards, while Balotelli hit a weak counter straight at Buffon.

Fabio Grosso forced Toldo into a tricky save with his strike from distance, palming it roud the upright.

There was huge controversy in the final minute of the first half, as a Thiago Motta's cross from the byline visibly struck Felipe Melo's arm. Inter had a pretty strong shout for a penalty, but the referee only awarded a corner. Melo had his arms raised as he came sliding in to block the cross.

After the restart Sissoko was playing with heavy strapping to his shoulder after a nasty fall in the first half.

Balotelli sprung the offside trap to roll across for Pandev, but the Macedonian missed the ball. The two combined the other way round with Balotelli smashing it on to the side-netting. Diego's angled drive flashed across the face of goal to dribble inches wide.

Juventus came so close to doubung their lead from a touched-on corner, as Giorgio Chiellini's twisting header cracked against the far post with Toldo scrambling back.

On the counter Pandev's shot was charged down by Melo, while Balotelli felt he was elbowed by Chiellini when his path was cut off in the box. Toldo eventually hoofed away the ball from Amauri after an acrobatic attempted overhead kick from Diego.

On 69 minutes Buffon did very well to beat away a powerful Balotelli snapshot at the near post.

Moments later Inter equalised in chaotic circumstances. A Sneijder free kick was deflected off the wall towards the back post, where Lucio got the sole of his boot to tap in at full stretch.

Candreva unleashed a screamer from 25 metres that was deflected off Thiago Motta just past the near post. At the other end Davide Santon skipped past Chiellini to roll wide of the upright in a smart move.

Inter gave the ball away in their final third to Diego, but substitute Sulley Muntari was able to shrug him off the ball.

Buffon twisted in the air to somehow bat a Sneijder free kick off the line with six minutes to go! The move continued and Buffon closed down Diego Milito enough for Chiellini to cut him off.

At the 89th minute Inter turned the game around. Thiago Motta's shot from the edge of the box was beaten away by Buffon as best he could, but Balotelli was totally unmarked to tap in from point-blank range. The striker was kept in play by the static Bianconeri defence.

Inter: Toldo; Maicon, Lucio, Materazzi, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso (Milito 60), Thiago Motta; Sneijder; Balotelli, Pandev (Muntari 79)

Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Sissoko, Felipe Melo, Candreva, De Ceglie (Paolucci 91); Diego, Amauri

Ref: Damato