AC Milan inches by Sassuolo to reach Italian Cup quarterfinals

MILAN (AP) — Nigel de Jong scored an 86th-minute winner as AC Milan beat Sassuolo 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the Italian Cup quarterfinals and avenge a defeat to

MILAN (AP) — Nigel de Jong scored an 86th-minute winner as AC Milan beat Sassuolo 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the Italian Cup quarterfinals and avenge a defeat to the same opponent last week.

Giampaolo Pazzini put Milan ahead after 38 minutes at San Siro with an acrobatic shot following a cross from newly signed Alessio Cerci.

Nicola Sansone equalized with a penalty in the 64th, but De Jong prevented extra time by volleying in the rebound after a shot by Andrea Poli hit the crossbar.

Last week, Sassuolo beat Milan 2-1 in Serie A.

Milan will next face either Torino or Lazio.

The other Round of 16 matchups are: Roma vs. Empoli; Fiorentina vs. Atalanta; Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria; Napoli vs. Udinese; Juventus vs. Hellas Verona; and Parma vs. Cagliari.