Staff Reporter.
Alexis Sanchez drilled in a long-range strike to seal Inter Milan’s 2-0 Coppa Italia quarterfinal win over AS Roma on Tuesday, after Jose Mourinho received a hero’s welcome at San Siro in his first game as an opposing coach at his former club.
Edin Dzeko powered home a volley inside the opening two minutes to put Inter ahead, and Nicolo Barella was inches away from a second when he smashed a shot off the bar.
Barella’s long-range strike hit the bar after six minutes as Inter dominated early on at the San Siro.
Sanchez’s 25-yard drive into the top corner settled the tie and Mourinho’s Roma lost England striker Tammy Abraham to injury late on.
Inter will face AC Milan or Lazio in the semi-finals.
It was an emotional night for Mourinho, who led Inter to back-to-back Serie A titles and an unprecedented Treble during two seasons at Inter between 2008 and 2010, as the home fans sang his name and unveiled a banner saying: “Welcome home Jose.”
“The way they welcomed me here, the directors gave me a beautiful gift and then the fans were very nice to me, this is the emotional side. I can only say thank you. I will never hide my eternal relationship with Inter,” Mourinho told Mediaset.
“But I came here to win, for my Roma and my people, and we didn’t manage to. Apart from the first five minutes we played very well.”
Mourinho’s first season at Roma has been filled with ups and downs, but the Inter fans left no doubt about their high regard for the Portuguese boss as they celebrated his return, 4,293 days after his last game in charge at the San Siro since May 2010.
However, Mourinho was soon left with little to smile about as an Inter side looking for an instant response to their weekend Milan Derby defeat started fast.
The Serie A leaders are in contention for all three trophies under Simone Inzaghi this season.
“The guys did very well because it wasn’t a simple match,” said Inzaghi.
“Roma have quality and a great squad, but we deserved to reach the semi-final, knowing that we are coming off a big setback. To organise a game like this after two-and-a-half days wasn’t easy.”