AC Milan vs. Sassuolo: Score, Report and Reaction from Coppa Italia Game

Nigel de Jong scored a late winner to send AC Milan into the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia with a 2-1 victory at home to Sassuolo on Tuesday evening at the San Siro.

The same two teams played just one week earlier in Serie A, Sassuolo coming from behind to defeat Milan 2-1 on the same pitch. Tuesday's rematch began in similar fashion, Milan taking the lead through Giampaolo Pazzini in the 38th minute before Sassuolo leveled via Nicola Sansone's second-half penalty.

This time, however, the Rossoneri were able to find the winner in the closing moments, De Jong powering in a volley on the rebound after Andrea Poli's initial effort had hit the crossbar.

The late goal sent Milan into the final eight of the competition, where Filippo Inzaghi's team will face either Torino or Lazio. 

Meanwhile, Milan will also try to improve their standing in Serie A after taking just one point from their first two matches of 2015. The Rossoneri, currently eighth in the table, will host Atalanta on Sunday.

Sassuolo, who currently sit 11th in the table, will play at Genoa in the league on Sunday.

The first big chance of the match fell to Milan in the sixth minute, Poli lifting a shot over the bar after fine interplay between Stephan El Shaarawy and Alessio Cerci.

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The hosts remained the more dangerous side, but did not threaten again until the 25th minute, when Cerci controlled a long, high ball on the right side of Sassuolo's box, held off his marker and shot low at Alberto Pomini, who stopped it.

At the other end, Sassuolo's Leonardo Pavoletti's first-time shot went wide after he latched onto a fine cross from the right.

As half-time neared, Milan began to build pressure. In the 36th minute, Giacomo Bonaventura slipped a pass through to Pazzini, who rolled a low shot back across his body and wide of the far post. One minute later, El Shaarawy cut inside from the left before shooting over the bar.

The opening goal felt imminent, and in the 38th minute, Pazzini made up for his previous miss. Cerci set up the chance with an inviting cross from the right, and Pazzini hooked a clever volley into the net at the far post for a 1-0 Milan lead.

Full of confidence, the Rossoneri nearly doubled their advantage soon after. In the 42nd minute, Cerci hit the post with a first-time shot following a cross from Mattia De Sciglio.

Milan were in control, but in stoppage time, Sassuolo nearly pulled level. Nicola Sansone curled in a free-kick from the left, picking out Sime Vrsaljko, who powered his header into the net. The visitors started to celebrate, but the referee disallowed the goal, calling them offside.

Both teams created good chances early in the second half. Milan threatened first, Pazzini coming close with a powerful header that Pomini did well to save in the 50th minute. Sassuolo countered quickly, Sansone leading the attack straight down the pitch. Sansone glided past Alex before shooting low on target, but Christian Abbiati saved.

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Pomini stopped Pazzini again in the 61st minute, keeping his side within one goal as the final half-hour began. It turned out to be an important save, too, as Sassuolo pulled level via a penalty shot just three minutes later.

The visitors won the penalty in the 63rd minute after Milan's Cristian Zapata felled Pavoletti in the box. Milan protested the decision, but one minute later, Sansone confidently converted the penalty down the middle to make the score 1-1.

Cerci had a go from distance in the 68th minute, curling a good free-kick on target in an effort to restore Milan's lead. Pomini momentarily appeared fooled, but the Sassuolo goalkeeper recovered in time to push the ball away.

At the other end, Pavoletti volleyed straight at Abbiati after latching on to a 70th-minute corner from the right flank. Ten minutes later, Sassuolo's Sergio Floccari forced Abbiati to save his audacious effort from long distance.

The match appeared destined to reach full-time with the score still 1-1, but in the 86th minute, Milan found the winner. Substitute Daniele Bonera lifted a curled pass over the top for Poli, who thundered a first-time volley off the crossbar. The ball rebounded to De Jong, who slammed in a volley to make it 2-1 with only moments left.

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