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None other than Mario Balotelli scored the 89th-minute winner as Inter Milan beat Juventus 2-1 in the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday.

Juve fans were banned from attending the game at the San Siro specifically because of racial taunts directed at Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent.

The game may have been the last for Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara, with the Turin club struggling mightily in Serie A and also eliminated from the Champions League.

It was Juve’s ninth loss in its last 12 games in all competitions.

Balotelli knocked in a rebound off a shot from Thiago Motta.

Diego put Juventus in front after 10 minutes with the help of an error by Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who let the ball pass through his legs.

Inter nearly equalized immediately after Diego’s score, but a powerful effort from Balotelli was pushed wide by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy left back Fabio Grosso nearly made it 2-0 for Juve in the 37th, with Toldo forced to push a long shot wide.

Inter defender Lucio equalized in the 72nd, deflecting in a free kick from Wesley Sneijder.

“In the second half, we took advantage of the fact that we’re going through a good moment and they’re not,” Inter manager Jose Mourinho said.

Juventus defender and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was given a yellow card for unsportsmanlike behavior following Balotelli’s winner.

Inter will face Fiorentina in the two-leg semifinals on Feb. 3 and 10, while AS Roma plays Udinese in the other half of the draw.

Mourinho defended Ferrara amid calls for his ouster. “Ferrara deserves respect. Unfortunately, Ferrara is going through a period when nobody respects him, but I respect him,” Mourinho said.


Associated Press