Football
19y

Soccer-Inter target Cup to break 16-year duck

ROME, May 17 - Inter Milan can move a step closer
to claiming their first piece of domestic silverware in 16 years
if they beat Cagliari in the second leg of their Italian Cup
semi-final on Wednesday.

The Italian giants' last triumph on home soil dates back to
1989, when they won the Serie A title.

Bolstered by Obafemi Martins's away goal in the 1-1
first-leg draw, Inter's players should feel confident of
progressing to the final, especially since they beat Cagliari
2-0 when they visited the San Siro little more than a month ago.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini is once again expected to field
an attack partnership of Adriano and Martins.

Cagliari, meanwhile, are targeting their first Italian Cup
to crown their return to Serie A this season.

Italy internationals Mauro Esposito and Antonio Langella,
and Gianfranco Zola, who struck the opening goal in the first
leg, are expected to start up front for the visitors.

In the second semi-final on Thursday, AS Roma travel north
to take on Udinese with their tie also balanced at 1-1, though
both sides could be forgiven for having Serie A on their minds.

While Roma's recent dreadful run of results has dropped them
close to the relegation zone, Udinese are fighting with
Sampdoria over Italy's fourth and final Champions League berth.

Roma's players were booed off the pitch after a drab 0-0
draw in the city derby against Lazio at the weekend.

Judging by the hostility of their fans -- some of whom have
claimed the game was a fix and have demanded their money back --
Roma might even be glad to be playing away from home.

A match in Udine is rarely an enticing prospect, but Roma's
3-3 Serie A draw in April ranks as one of their more lively
recent performances. They might also feel they have a score to
settle from the first leg of their Cup semi-final.

Roma had the better possession, but Udinese defender Valerio
Bertotto's late goal cancelled out Philippe Mexes's early
strike.

Roma captain Francesco Totti, who is serving a five-match
Serie A ban, is expected to step back into the team, though
injuries to Traianos Dellas and Cristian Chivu means coach Bruno
Conti must cobble together a back four.

Udinese's first choice keeper Morgan De Sanctis has a knee
injury and should be replaced by Samir Handanovic.

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