Martins earns Inter 1-0 Cup win over Atalanta
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-28 08:54

Striker Obafemi Martins grabbed the winner as Inter Milan beat Atalanta 1-0 in the first leg of their Italian Cup quarter-final on Thursday.

Inter dominated the early stages, but rarely threatened to turn possession into goals and as the game progressed the home side grew in confidence.

On the half hour Atalanta striker Davide Sinigaglia broke the offside trap to go through alone on goal but fired straight at keeper Hector Carini.

After the break Andrea Lazzari, who scored all of Atalanta's goals in a 5-3 win over Juventus in the previous round, forced a reflex save from Carini.

He went even closer soon after when he rattled the bar with a dipping long-range shot.

With a little less than half an hour remaining, Inter coach Roberto Mancini sent on Martins and in the 72nd minute the young Nigerian turned his marker on the edge of the area and chipped the onrushing keeper to seal the win.

In an earlier quarter-final, Cagliari cruised to a 2-0 win over Sampdoria.

Cagliari took an early lead, when David Suazo punctured the visitors' defence with a through ball that fellow striker Rolando Bianchi turned past goalie Luigi Turci.

Suazo then doubled the home side's advantage in the 24th minute, using his pace to run on to a long ball before beating Turci at his near post.

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