Nigel de Jong scored a late winner as Milan edged past Sassuolo 2-1 in their Coppa Italia last-16 clash at the San Siro.

Giampaolo Pazzini handed the hosts the lead after 38 minutes as he volleyed home from an inviting cross into the bottom-left corner.

The visitors levelled with a penalty - awarded after Cristian Zapata brought down Leonardo Pavoletti with a clumsy tackle in the box.

Nicola Sansone made no mistake as he equalised for Sassuolo just after the hour mark, slotting the spot-kick straight down the middle, with Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati diving left.

But the hosts took the lead for the second time as De Jong claimed the winner after 86 minutes when he fired home on the rebound after Andrea Poli's effort struck the bar to send Milan through to the quarter-finals.

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