Football
Reuters 17y

Soccer-Cruz gives holders Inter Cup advantage

MILAN, Nov 9 - A 40th minute strike from Argentine
Julio Ricardo Cruz gave Italian Cup holders Inter Milan a 1-0
win away to Messina in the first leg of their last 16 tie on
Thursday.

Cruz curled a free kick home from 20 metres to ensure
Roberto Mancini's side go into the second leg with a one goal
advantage as they aim to win the Cup for the third consecutive
season.

Inter were one of eight teams granted a bye into the last 16
by virtue of finishing in the top eight in last season's Serie
A.

They created a number of chances in the first half before
Cruz struck but after the break they were content to keep
control of the game and defend their lead.

Serie B side Napoli were hosting Parma in Thursday's other
tie.

On Wednesday AC Milan had to fight back from a two-goal
deficit to overcome second division side Brescia 4-2 but AS Roma
had no such trouble beating another Serie B side, Triestina,
with Vincenzo Montella scoring each side of the interval in a
2-1 win.

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