Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores in dramatic Milan win, Villa reach cup final

APD NEWS

text

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first goal at the San Siro since 2012 as AC Milan came from behind to beat visitors Torino 4-2 after extra time and reach the semifinals of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday.

Turkey midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu netted a stoppage-time equalizer before giving the Rossoneri a 3-2 lead in extra time as the home side claimed their fifth win in as many games to set up a last-four clash with Juventus.

Milan were clear favorites and went ahead on 12 minutes when midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura latched onto Ante Rebic's cross.

Gleison Bremer, however, equalized 10 minutes before the interval with a low, angled shot and he put the visitors ahead by heading in Ola Aina's cross in the 71st minute.

Yet Calhanoglu's half-volley two minutes into stoppage time drew Milan level and he was at it again in the 107th with a shot from close range before substitute Ibrahimovic rounded off the scoring two minutes later from inside the box.

With banners and music, Milan's San Siro stadium paid tribute to former NBA star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Bryant had spent part of his childhood in Italy.

Derby County's Wayne Rooney (R) in action with Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu during their Championship at Kenilworth Road, January 28, 2020. /VCG Photo

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney also had a great night, scoring his first goal for Derby County as he struck the opener in a 3-2 defeat at bottom side Luton Town in the Championship.

The 34-year-old ex-England captain, who made his debut earlier this month, found the back of the net with a deflected shot after being set up by Duane Holmes in the 63rd minute.

Derby could not keep the lead though and lost to a Jayden Bogle own goal as they finished with 10 men after Max Lowe was sent off two minutes from time for pushing referee Andy Davies.

They are 16th in the table with 37 points from 29 games.

Elsewhere in England, Aston Villa's Trezeguet struck a dramatic 93rd-minute winner to send them into the League Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City that gave them a 3-2 aggregate win.

Matt Targett fired the hosts ahead in the semifinal second leg at Villa Park after being teed up by Jack Grealish, with Leicester's Youri Tielemans hitting the crossbar at the other end.

Kelechi Iheanacho equalized from close range in the 72nd minute as he did in the first leg, but Trezeguet finished perfectly in stoppage time at the back post to win it for Dean Smith's side.

Villa, five-time winners who are back in the final for the first time since 2010, will face either Manchester City or Manchester United, who meet in their second-leg clash on Wednesday, with City leading 3-1 on aggregate.

Aston Villa's Trezeguet (R) scores their second goal during the Carabao Cup semifinal against Leicester City at Villa Park, January 28, 2020. /VCG Photo

The biggest upset of the day was provided by Belfort. The fourth-tier minnows made it through to the French Cup quarterfinals after knocking out Ligue 1 giants Montpellier in a dramatic penalty shootout, while holders Rennes edged a nine-goal thriller with top flight Angers 5-4.

Montpellier are sixth in the French top division but failed to find the net over 120 minutes, and missed two spot-kicks in an emotional shootout.

"It's magic, there are no words to describe how we feel," Belfort's 21-year-old defender Guillaume Arisi said as the players celebrated.

"Now we're hoping for a tasty draw in the quarters."

A red card for Montpellier 'keeper Geronimo Rulli for making a save well outside the box left substitute stopper Dimitry Bertaud to face defeat against lowly opposition.

At the Raymond Kopa stadium Brittany side Rennes were 3-1 ahead going into the final half an hour against regional rivals Angers, who struck twice in the last five minutes through Sada Thioub and Stephane Bahoken to take the match into extra time.

But the side who beat Paris Saint-Germain on penalties at the Stade de France in last year's final emerged winners when Jeremy Gelin fired home a 25-yard volley to make in 5-4.

Claude Puel led Saint Etienne to a 1-0 win at his old team Monaco, who failed to get an effort on or off target in the first 40 minutes with new boss Robert Moreno struggling to turn them around after a month in the job.

On Wednesday Marseille host Strasbourg, Nice take on Lyon, Lille face Epinal and PSG travel to third division Pau.

(REUTERS)