Final score

17 January 2007 21:00

Inter
32' (2nd half) Grosso
28' Cambiasso
Empoli
Referee: Francesco Squillace / Linesmen: Giachero, Comito / Fourth official: Scoditti
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
45' Inter lead Empoli 1-0 at the break (aggregate 3-0), thanks to Cambiasso's 28th-minute goal.
45' Empoli clear a Figo free kick from the right wing.
44' The lively Hernan Crespo presses Vanigli, forcing the Empoli defender to pass back to Bassi.
42' Grosso's powerful shot from the free kick comes off Cambiasso and finishes inches wide of the right post.
41' Crespo chests down a Figo forward pass and is fouled by Vanigli, who is booked by referee Squillace. The free kick is in a central position 20 yards out.
40' Toldo grasps the ball to deny Matteini a scoring chance.
39' Iacoponi heads clear a Figo cross from the left after Mariano Gonzalez is dispossessed in the box.
38' Mariano Gonzalez flagged offside after collecting a Cambiasso ball on the left flank.
37' Samuel powers a header from Figo's right-wing corner over the Tuscan bar.
34' Grosso goes close with a low right-foot shot from just inside the Empoli area, which appears to shave the post.
30' Gasparetto blasts his penalty kick on to the crossbar.
29' The match has really come alive at San Siro as Empoli win a penalty for a Dacourt foul on Eder.
28' GOOOAAALLLLL!!!! Solari serves Gonzalez on the right with a deft pass. The winger sends a fast cross into the area, and Cambiasso steals in at the back post and smashes home from close range to finish off the Argentine combination and put Inter in front.
26' Another headed interception by Vanigli, this time from Crespo's ball for Gonzalez.
25' Vanigli intercepts Burdisso's long ball forward for Mariano Gonzalez and heads to a team-mate.
24' At the other end, Burdisso beats Gasparetto to an Eder through ball and plays calmly back to Toldo.
23' Figo's inswinging cross from the left goes straight into the arms of Empoli keeper Bassi.
22' Crespo receives a Figo pass and looks for Mariano Gonzalez with a quick flick, but Empoli intercept.
20' Crespo latches on to an intelligent through ball from Solari and sends a low shot wide of the left post, but the flag goes up for offside.
19' Cambiasso blocks a Marianini cross from the right. Throw-in for Cagni's side.
17' Grosso combines well with Cambiasso on the left channel but Marianini gets back to tackle the Italian full-back.
16' Eder's ball into the Inter box for Gasparetto is cleared by Nic Burdisso.
15' Matteini receives from Gasparetto on the left edge of the Inter area and sends an inswinging cross out of play.
13' Toldo tips over a cross-shot from Matteini, and Empoli win their second corner of the game.
11' Samuel's header from Figo's corner is headed clear by the Tuscan defence.
11' Figo receives on the right from Mariano Gonzalez and has his cross blocked. Corner for Inter.
10' Captain for the evening Ivan Cordoba elegantly cuts out a low ball into the box for Gasparetto.
9' Burdisso blocks a left-wing cross from Matteini, who received in a wide position from Buzzegoli.
9' Samuel wins an aerial duel with Gasparetto and heads out for an Empoli right-wing throw-in.
8' Corner for the Azzurri. Cambiasso makes a clearance in the middle of the area.
7' Buzzegoli's left-wing cross into the Nerazzurri area is chested back to Toldo by Walter Samuel.
5' Empoli attack back. The Tuscans put together a good passing move which comes to an end with Matteini's inswinger going behind for a goal kick.
4' Solari floats a ball to the egde of the Empoli area from the left, but it sails over the head of Hernan Crespo, back in action for Inter tonight after recovering from injury.
3' Figo disposseses Ascoli deep in the Inter half and sets up a counter-attack, but the visitors win a free kick for a foul by Cambiasso.
1' Welcome to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan's San Siro district for tonight's Tim Cup quarter-final return between Inter and Empoli (first leg 2-0 to the Nerazzurri).
1' Nicolas Burdisso, who scored twice against Messina in the round of sixteen, rises in the Empoli box to head over Figo's corner.
1' Dacourt's shot from distance takes a deflection. Right-wing corner for Inter.
1' Empoli kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!
1' The winners will face Sampdoria over two legs in the semi-finals.
1' Empoli: 1 Bassi; 19 Iacoponi, 16 Marzoratti, 15 Vanigli, 33 Ascoli; 27 Ficini, 8 Marianini, 20 Buzzegoli; 17 Eder, 99 Gasparetto, 7 Matteini.
1' Inter: 1 Toldo; 16 Burdisso, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 11 Grosso; 7 Figo, 15 Dacourt, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari; 91 Mariano Gonzalez; 18 Crespo.
Minute Text commentary
47' Full time. Inter beat Empoli 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate) to set up a Tim Cup semi-final with Sampdoria.
47' Santi Solari bursts past two opponents in the area and sends a cross-shot wide of the far post.
46' Ascoli's shot on the turn from inside the Inter area is over Toldo's bar.
45' 2 minutes of overtime.
44' Ribas is presented with a good chance to score from a Solari pass but takes the ball wide before passing back into the middle of the area. Empoli intercept and clear.
41' Biabiany's header from a Grosso cross is deflected out for a right-wing corner.
39' Toldo grasps a Vanigli effort from 20 yards.
34' Uruguayan forward Sebastian Ribas comes on for his first-team debut. Off comes Hernan Crespo.
33' Empoli substitution: Balzaneddu on, Matteini off.
32' GOOOAAAAALLL!!!!!! Fabio Grosso doubles Inter's lead with a sweet left-foot strike from 25 yards that sails into the top left corner.
31' Empoli replace Marianini with Musacci.
30' Mancini's hands French striker Jonathan Ludovic Biabiany his first-team debut. Off comes Luis Figo.
30' Mariano Gonzalez tests Bassi with a fierce low strike from the edge of the Empoli area.
29' Empoli clear Figo's inswinging cross with some difficulty.
28' Gonzalez has a left-wing cross blocked. Corner for Inter.
26' Grosso beats Eder to an Empoli left-wing cross and makes a headed clearance.
25' Solari's curling free kick is high over Bassi's crossbar.
24' Mariano Gonzalez wins us a free kick right on the edge of the Empoli box after trying to dribble Marianini and Marzoratti. The latter is booked.
23' Empoli defender Marianini thwarts an Inter attack involving Gonzalez and Dacourt.
21' Burdisso gets the better of Cesaretti on the left and plays to safety.
21' Toldo gathers an Eder cross from the right flank.
20' Headed clearance by Vanigli to deny Crespo a clear route through on goal.
17' Gonzalez is inches offside as he collects a through ball before firing wide.
16' Empoli replace Buzzegoli with Cesaretti.
16' Mariano Gonzalez wins an aerial duel, creates space for a shot and fires wide of the left post from 20 yards.
14' From the right wing Bonucci plays central to Solari who lashes a left-footer wide of the left post.
13' Inter back in attack. Figo's diagonal effort from Grosso's pass is blocked by the Empoli defence.
13' Buzzegoli fires over from distance after latching on to Bonucci's clearance from an Empoli left-wing corner.
11' Ascoli intercepts a Solari pass for Mariano Gonzalez and makes a sliding clearance.
9' Toldo makes a punched clearance to deny Gasparetto again, then smothers the ball.
8' At the other end, Toldo gets to the edge of his area to deny Gasparetto.
8' Bonucci crosses for Crespo who plays through for Mariano Gonzalez. The flag goes up for offside.
7' Grosso combines with Mariano Gonzalez on the left but the move comes to nothing. Goal kick for Empoli.
6' Matteini's curling shot from the resulting free kick is over Toldo's bar.
5' Ivan Cordoba trips Eder just outside the Inter penalty area.
3' Ficini has a go from distance. Easy save for Francesco Toldo.
2' Gasparetto's shot from a left-wing cross is deflected out for a corner by Nicolas Burdisso. The corner is cleared by Cambiasso.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' Visit this link to read about the seven Primavera players drafted into Mancini's squad for tonight's cup clash: http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=25252&L=en
1' Roberto Mancini has brought on Inter Primavera defender Leonardo Bonucci for Walter Samuel.
Cordoba
7.13
7.13
Toldo
7.54
7.54
Crespo
7.1
7.1
Cambiasso
8.42
8.42
Burdisso
7.46
7.46
Solari
6.98
6.98
Samuel
7.16
7.16
Figo
8.02
8.02
Bonucci
8.01
8.01
Grosso
8.58
8.58
Dacourt
6.89
6.89
Gonzalez
7.48
7.48
Biabiany
7.3
7.3
Ribas
7.33
7.33
Average rating 7.53
0 shots on target 0
0 shots off target 0
0 fouls committed 0
0 corners 0
0 offsides 0
00 ball possession 00
Mancini v Cagni

Roberto Mancini has met Luigi Cagni on 4 previous occasions, collecting 3 victories and a defeat.
br> Details:

2002/03 Serie A Lazio-Piacenza 2-1 ----
2005/06 Serie A Inter-Empoli ---- 0-1
2006/07 Serie A Inter-Empoli ---- 3-0
2006/07 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli ---- 2-0

Cagni v Inter

Empoli boss Luigi Cagni has faced Inter on 8 previous occasions. He has won 2 games, drawn 1 and lost 5. Cagni's teams have never won in Milan, with a draw and 2 defeats from 3 encounters.

Details:

1995/96 Serie A Piacenza-Inter 1-0 0-0
1996/97 Serie A Verona-Inter 0-1 1-2
2002/03 Serie A Piacenza-Inter ---- 1-3
2005/06 Serie A Empoli-Inter 1-0 ----
2006/07 Serie A Empoli-Inter 0-3 ----
2006/07 Coppa Italia Empoli-Inter 0-2 ----

Inter v Empoli

1983/84 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli 3-1 ----
1984/85 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli 1-0 1-0
1985/86 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli ---- 1-1
1986/87 Serie A Inter-Empoli 2-1 0-1
1986/87 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli 1-0 2-0
1987/88 Serie A Inter-Empoli 2-0 1-1
1987/88 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli 2-1 1-0
1997/98 Serie A Inter-Empoli 4-1 1-1
1998/99 Serie A Inter-Empoli 5-1 2-1
2002/03 Serie A Inter-Empoli 3-0 4-3
2003/04 Serie A Inter-Empoli 0-1 3-2
2005/06 Serie A Inter-Empoli 4-1 0-1
2006/07 Serie A Inter-Empoli ---- 3-0
2006/07 Coppa Italia Inter-Empoli ---- 2-0

Inter unbeaten in 22 games

Inter are unbeaten in 22 competitive matches, with 19 victories (including 11 wins in a row - 7 wins in Serie A, 2 in Coppa Italia & 2 in Champions League from 25 October 2006 to 2 December 2006 - a club record under the administration of Moratti) and 3 draws since their last defeat, a 2-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on 27 September 2006.

Inter on target in 18 consecutive matches

Roberto Mancini's team have hit the target in each of their last 18 games, scoring a total of 39 goals. Inter's last match without scoring was the goalless Serie A draw at Udinese on 22 October 2006.

No Inter home draw in 12 games

Inter's last draw at the Meazza was a 1-1 Serie A stalemate with Sampdoria on 16 September 2006. Since that date, the Nerazzurri have won 11 matches (including 10 consecutive victories) and lost one.

No Inter defeat in Coppa Italia since 2002

Inter 1-2 Bari on 19 December 2002 was the Nerazzurri's last defeat in Italy's cup competition. Since that date Inter have collected 16 wins and 9 draws from 25 games to better the club's previous record of 20 cup matches without defeat, set between May 1986 and April 1988. With 14 wins and 5 draws, Roberto Mancini is unbeaten in the Coppa Italia since taking over at Inter.

No cup goal against Inter for 280 minutes

Nonda's 80th-minute strike in Inter 3-1 Roma on 11 May 2006 was the last Coppa Italia goal conceded by the Nerazzurri. Including the remaining 10 minutes of last season's final second leg, plus the entire games against Messina (home and away) and Empoli (away) this term, Inter have not let in a domestic cup goal for 280 competitive minutes.

Inter always through after 2-0 win from first leg

For the third time in their history Inter play a Coppa Italia return leg at home after a 2-0 win from the first leg. The Nerazzurri have qualified for the successive round on each of the previous two occasions: Inter 1-0 Empoli (round of 16) in 1986/87, and Inter 1-0 Roma (final) in 2004/05.

No Empoli draw in 8 games

Since their last draw, a 0-0 Serie A home stalemate with AC Milan on 18 November 2006, Empoli have won 4 matches and lost 4.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(6) draws(0) defeats(0)
MILAN - Esteban Cambiasso and Fabio Grosso scored in either half as Inter registered a 2-0 win over Empoli at the Meazza to complete a 4-0 aggregate victory and set up a Tim Cup semi-final meeting with Sampdoria.

After a sluggish start the game came alive on 28 minutes when Santiago Solari picked out Mariano Gonzalez on the right with a deft touch of the ball. The ex-Palermo winger's fast cross into the area was met at the back post by Cambiasso who lashed home from a tight angle to finish off the Argentine combination and put Inter in front.

Empoli forward Mirco Gasparetto wasted a golden opportunity to bring Empoli level two minutes later, blasting against the bar from the penalty spot after Dacourt brought down Eder to end a mazy run by the Brazilian.

Grosso twice went close to increasing Inter's lead before the break, shaving the post with a low right-foot shot from just inside the area before seeing a powerful free kick finish inches wide of the post via a deflection off Cambiasso.

It was third time lucky for the Italian full-back, who doubled Inter's lead on 77 minutes with a sweetly-struck left-footer that sailed into the top left corner.

Jonathan Ludovic Biabiany and Sebastian Ribas, two of seven Inter Primavera players drafted into Mancini's squad for the cup clash, came on during the second half to make their first-team debuts. Both strikers were presented scoring chances in the final minutes.

INTER 2-0 EMPOLI (HT: 1-0, AGG: 4-0)

Scorers: Cambiasso 28, Grosso 77.

INTER: 1 Toldo; 16 Burdisso, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel (51 Bonucci 46), 11 Grosso; 7 Figo (58 Biabiany 76), 15 Dacourt, 19 Cambiasso, 21 Solari; 91 Mariano Gonzalez; 18 Crespo (60 Ribas 79).
Subs not used: 79 Carini, 4 Zanetti, 36 Fautario, 50 Maaroufi.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

EMPOLI: 1 Bassi; 19 Iacoponi, 16 Marzoratti, 15 Vanigli, 33 Ascoli; 27 Ficini, 8 Marianini (28 Musacci 76), 20 Buzzegoli (18 Cesaretti 61); 17 Eder, 99 Gasparetto, 7 Matteini (21 Baldanzeddu 78).
Subs not used: 89 Pelagotti, 2 Rincon, 13 Arcidiacono, 25 Pizza.
Coach: Luigi Cagni.

Referee: Francesco Squillace (Catanzaro).

Booked: Vanigli 41, Marzoratti 69.

starting lineups

Toldo 1 Bassi
Burdisso 16 Iacoponi
Cordoba 2 Marzoratti
Samuel 25 Vanigli
Grosso 11 Ascoli
Figo 7 Ficini
Dacourt 15 Marianini
Cambiasso 19 Buzzecoli
Solari 21 Eder
Gonzalez 91 Gasparetto
Crespo 18 Matteini

substitutes

Carini 79 Pelagotti
Zanetti 4 Rincon
Fautario 36 Balzaneddu
Maaroufi 50 Musacci
Bonucci 51 Cesaretti
Biabiany 58 Arcidiacono
Ribas 60 Pizza