Inter Milan needed an extra-time winner from substitute Romelu Lukaku to win 2-1 at Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia and book a meeting with rivals AC Milan in the quarter-finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Holders Napoli also made it through on Wednesday, beating second-division Empoli 3-2 in the round of 16.
In Florence, Alexis Sanchez was in the thick of the action in the first half, hitting the post from close range, before he was later fouled in the penalty area, with Arturo Vidal stepping up to give Inter the lead with a 40th minute spot kick.
Inter, who also fielded the little-used Christian Eriksen, were furious when the referee awarded another penalty moments later at the other end, with Milan Skriniar appearing to win the ball, but the decision was overturned after VAR intervened.
Lautaro Martinez then had a glorious chance to put Inter two goals in front and his miss proved costly as Christian Kouame thundered home a 57th-minute equaliser for Fiorentina.
Sanchez was guilty of another glaring miss as Inter failed to find a winner in normal time but Lukaku headed home in the 119th minute to send them through to face Milan, who beat Torino on penalties in their last-16 clash on Tuesday.
"We are not thinking about the clash with Milan now but we are happy to have won today against a strong team with a great coach [Cesare Prandelli]," Lukaku said.
"We won and it was important for our confidence and we want to continue on like this."
In Naples, Giovanni Di Lorenzo nodded in Napoli's opener against his former team and Hirving Lozano's drive put the hosts ahead for a second time as Nedim Bajrami twice levelled for the Serie B frontrunners.
The Swiss youth-team international drilled in two great shots into the far corner either side of half-time.
Australian Associated Press