Milan win at home as De Rossi gives Roma first-leg lead

Milan came from behind to beat Udinese 3-2 last night and a header by Daniele De Rossi gave Roma a narrow 1-0 first-leg advantage over Fiorentina in the day's other quarter-final first leg at the Olimpico.

It was the second time in four days that Roma had got the better of Fiorentina, following a 2-1 Serie A victory on Sunday.

The result also brought disappointment for newly-appointed Fiorentina coach Dino Zoff, who took over from Sergio Buso at the start of the week.

In a semi-deserted San Siro stadium, Milan took a 17th-minute lead through Massimo Ambrosini, from a Serginho cross.

But Udinese hit back strongly. David Di Michele was left unmarked at the far post to hit home from a free-kick and eight minutes before half-time Di Michele again pounced on a loose ball in the box to make it 2-1 after a Kaladze defensive blunder.

Milan played better with the returning Filippo Inzaghi in the team after the break.

Udinese failed to clear a cross and Ambrosini nodded home from close in after 67 minutes. Serginho scored the winner six minutes from time from a free-kick.

With 13 titles between them, Roma and Fiorentina are among the most successful sides in the history of the competition.

The early exchanges, however, suggested a mismatch. Even without captain Francesco Totti, who has a muscle strain, Roma dominated the first half, pinning the visitors back in their own half.

Five minutes before the interval Antonio Cassano was barged to the ground on the edge of the Fiorentina area and from the resulting free-kick De Rossi headed powerfully into the net.

Fiorentina came out with more determination in the second half, but still laboured to break down Roma's defence.