Inter advanced to the Coppa Italia

Inter Milan advanced to the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Juventus.

The game may have been the last for Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara, with the Turin club struggling mightily in Serie A and also eliminated from the Champions League.

It was Juve's ninth loss in its last 12 games in all competitions.

Juventus made an ideal start as Diego's 10th-minute shot squirmed past goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.

The Nerazzurri responded strongly but their pressure was not rewarded for the remainder of the first half as Juve clung onto their lead.

The hosts deservedly equalised when Lucio prodded in Wesley Sneijder's deflected free-kick midway through the second period.

Mario Balotelli then sealed a place in the last four with a goal in the 89th minute, turning the ball home after Gianluigi Buffon could only parry Thiago Motta's shot.

"In the second half we took advantage of the fact that we're going through a good moment and they're not," Inter manager Jose Mourinho said. "We never lost hope."

"We're men, we have families and it's not nice what is happening, that they're talking about (Rafa) Benitez, or (Alberto) Zaccheroni," Mourinho said. "Ferrara deserves respect. Unfortunately Ferrara is going through a period when nobody respects him, but I respect him."

"It's better to forget what happened at the end of the first half," Mourinho said.