Inter make heavy weather

Inter Milan striker Adriano takes a penalty kick which is subsequently saved by Genoa goalkeeper Alessio Scarpi (not in picture) during their Italian Cup match at Rome on Tuesday. Adriano made up for his miss with a headed goal, while even Scarpi's heroics could not save Genoa from exiting the competition. Photo: AFP

Inter Milan booked an Italian Cup quarterfinal date with AS Roma on Tuesday but they made heavy weather of beating a Genoa side 3-1 after their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute.
Inter - who have faced Roma in the last four Italian Cup finals with both sides winning it twice - progressed eventually thanks to extra-time goals by Argentinian midfielder Esteban Cambiasso - who was being watched by national coach Diego Maradona - and Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Unpredictable Brazilian striker Adriano had put Inter ahead with 15 minutes remaining but a mistake by Argentinian defender Walter Samuel let in Genoa's captain Marco Rossi to level four minutes later.
Adriano had a curate's egg of a match having originally won the penalty in the 20th minute that saw Genoa's Giuseppe Biava sent-off - Adriano, though, had his penalty saved by the outstanding Genoa goalkeeper Alessio Scarpi.
Time and time again Scarpi saved his side, but eventually something had to give and the barrel-chested Adriano headed home from a cross by Maxwell in the 75th minute - only for Rossi to benefit from Samuel's mistake minutes later.
However, Genoa's resistance eventually wilted 10 minutes into extra-time as first Cambiasso turned in an Ibrahimovic shot that had been saved by Scarpi and then three minutes later Ibrahimovic wrapped it up.