Napoli beat Inter 1-0 in first leg of Coppa Italia semifinals

ROME - SSC Napoli edged past FC Internazionale (Inter) 1-0 in the first leg of the Coppa Italia (Italy Cup) semi-finals at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, commonly known as San Siro, in Milan on Wednesday night.

Left-footed Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz scored a goal for Napoli in the 57th minute.

The Nerazzurri staged several unsuccessful attacks on well-defended Napoli.

"It took all of the lads together to go up against a great team such as Inter," Napoli centre-back Kostas Manolas told RAI public broadcaster, which aired the match live.

"We've been working on our combinations and on improving our defence. Today we saw that the team (meaning Napoli) also knows how to suffer and how to defend," Manolas said.

The second leg sees the Azzurri take on Inter at San Paolo Stadium in Naples on March 5.

Milan face Juventus on Feb. 13 at home at San Siro, with the second leg to be played at Allianz Stadium in Turin on March 4.

The Coppa Italia final is slated for May 13.