Juventus 2-3 Inter Milan

TURIN - Inter edged Juventus 3-2 in a pulsating clash at the Stadio Olimpico to complete a 5-4 aggregate victory and set up a Coppa Italia semi-final meeting with Lazio.

Inter Primavera's 17-year-old striker Mario Balotelli gave the Nerazzurri a dream start to the third 'derby d'Italia' of the season, controlling Maniche's ball into the box and shrugging off a challenge from Birindelli before sidefooting past Belardi for his third goal in the competition.

Juventus produced a quick reply through their captain Alessandro Del Piero, his free kick taking a deflection off the Inter wall and sailing past a stranded Francesco Toldo.

Mancini's men went close to a second in the 20th minute when Belardi tipped on to the post Nuno Maniche's thunderous long-range shot.

But it was the Bianconeri who edged in front just after the half-hour mark. Toldo tipped Stendardo's header from Del Piero's free kick on to the upright, and Vincenzo Iaquinta pounced on the loose ball to head in from close range.

Inter kept their cool in an inferno-like atmosphere and levelled before the break when Julio Cruz sent Belardi the wrong way from the spot after Salihamidzic handled in the area.

There were no signs of a second-half slowdown as both teams looked to gain the upper hand.

Stankovic headed wide Balotelli's fast cross and Cruz had a low effort blocked by Belardi, before Toldo pulled off a miraculous save to thwart Pavel Nedved.

Inter were back in front in the 54th minute when 'Supermario' Balotelli collected Stankovic's ball into the area, swivelled and thrashed his shot into the top right corner.

Claudio Ranieri threw Trezeguet and Camoranesi into the fray to give his side fresh attacking options, but Inter continued to create and Cruz missed a great chance to kill off the game, firing just wide with just Belardi to beat after Stankovic's long ball upfield.

Toldo made another brilliant intervention in the closing stages, producing a one-handed save to keep out Trezeguet's snapshot.

Camoranesi made his team's dim chances of a comeback even dimmer when he was shown a straight red card for kicking Pelé in the centre circle.

Juventus 2-3 Inter (HT: 2-2, AGG. 4-5)

Taken from: www.inter.it