A. Candreva has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by João Mário.
GOOOOAAALLL!!! INTER 6-2 BENEVENTO! Candreva caps the scoring with a quality sixth goal, adding a final flourish with his breakaway goal. The midfielder takes the ball past a couple of players and finds the bottom corner of the net.
Joao Mario claims the assist, but this goal was all about the quality of Candreva's finish - not only to shake off a couple of opponents but to also find a way past Montipo.
FULL-TIME: INTER 6-2 BENEVENTO
90' +3
Inter are remaining professional to see out the remaining seconds with minimal fuss. The visitors have had six shots on target in the second half, the latest from Sanogo, and they have scored from two of those.
90' +1
SAVE! Insigne decides to take on the shot from 25 yards, sending it down the middle for another comfortable Padelli save. Four minutes have been added on at the end of the match.
89'
The referee is unlikely to add on too much time at the end, so Benevento have just a few minutes to pull back another goal. It is the visitors who are currently seeing more of the ball, and they win themselves a corner. Plenty of bodies come forward, but it is a disappointing delivery.
87'
Dalbert sends in a good cross from the right towards Martinez, but the two-goal striker is unable to find the target with his flying volley. That would have capped off an impressive second-half showing for Martinez had he made the desired connection.
85'
S. Sanogo enters the game and replaces C. Buonaiuto.
Youngster Sanogo, who made his debut in December, is brought on for a cameo appearance at San Siro. Buonaiuto is the player to make way.
83'
João Mário enters the game and replaces M. Brozović.
J. Billong enters the game and replaces A. Tuia.
Joao Mario is on for Brozovic in Inter's third change of the match. Not long left for the home side to see through.
Bucchi brings on Billong for Tuia, who went down with cramp a little earlier and is clearly in need of a rest.
82'
Valero fizzes the ball across the Benevento target with his attempt. Inter appear to be closing in on a sixth goal, which really would be harsh on the visitors.
80'
Tuia, who is making his Benevento debut today, goes down with cramp but soon returns to his feet. The visitors are starting to tire as we enter the final 10 minutes at San Siro.
78'
Inter are back in control of possession now, taking the sting out of the match. If the pattern of this entertaining cup tie continues, the hosts will probably score a sixth goal in the next few minutes.
Minute
Description
76'
Benevento are playing with some real belief, knowing that one more goal really would set up a tense finale. Ricci, introduced just a couple of minutes ago, dummies the ball when he should have been taking on the shot.
74'
F. Bandinelli has scored a goal for Benevento! Assist by R. Improta.
F. Ricci enters the game and replaces M. Coda.
GOOOAAALLL!!! INTER 5-2 BENEVENTO! Bandinelli pulls Benevento back to within three goals of Inter with a fine header at the back post. The midfielder, played onside by Brozovic, outjumps his marker to nod Improta's cross into the back of the net.
Benevento had asked a few questions of Inter after conceding a fifth goal, and they were rewarded by winning a corner which Bandinelli scored from. A good delivery from Improta, who has been lively throughout.
Bennevento's leading scorer Coda makes way for the final 16 minutes, with Ricci prodiving some fresh legs in attack.
73'
Benevento are the side asking more of the questions at the moment. The visitors have given a good account of themselves, but this 5-1 scoreline could turn a little embarrassing if Inter bag another in the remaining minutes.
71'
We are into the final 20 minutes now and Inter are starting to go through the motions. Spalletti has surprisingly held off from making a second substitution, but that may change in the next few minutes.
69'
The 5-1 scoreline is very harsh on Benevento, who have matched their opponents for large parts of the contest. The difference has been in the final third, as Inter have been pretty ruthless in front of goal.
67'
Borja Valero enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
G. Di Chiara gets yellow.
With three assists under his belt, including a couple for Martinez, Perisic makes way for Borja.
Montipo is cautioned by the referee for his protests, believing that Inter's fifth goal should not have stood. It was for an offside call against Candreva, but the midfielder timed his run perfectly and was onside.
66'
L. Martínez has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by I. Perišić.
Perisic completes his hat-trick of assists with this delicate touch into the path of Martinez. Great play from Inter, who have hit full flow on their return to action.
GOOOAAALLL!! INTER 5-1 BENEVENTO! Martinez picks out the bottom corner of the net once teed up by Perisic to double his personal tally for the day. This was another sweeping Inter move, with Perisic helping the ball onto Martinez to do the rest. Benevento believe that there was an offside in the build-up, but after checking VAR the referee lets the goal stand.
65'
There is an incredible amount of space in the middle of the field, which both sides are making the most of. From one end to the other, Benevento win a corner which ultimately comes to nothing. A second goal for the visitors really would make things interesting.
64'
The sides have taken it in turn to attack since Insigne curled a free-kick into the bottom corner to reduce the arrears. Opposition boss Cristian Bucchi has still yet to turn to his bench.
62'
Politano shoots narrowly wide of the target from distance. Inter have not really got out of first gear since scoring a fourth goal, but Benevento's consolation may well change that.
60'
An hour on the clock and Spalletti will likely be considering a second change. Benevento deserved that goal and it has given them just a little something to cling onto as we enter the final half an hour.
58'
R. Insigne has scored a goal for Benevento!
GOOOAAALLLL!! INTER 4-1 BENEVENTO! Padelli is furious with his team-mates as Insigne sends his free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner. A strange goal for Inter to concede, but it will surely be nothing more than a consolation.
57'
Inter are comfortable in possession and are cruising towards the most straightforward of cups wins. A cross from the right loops into the air and ends behind Montipo's goal, the keeper watching it all the way.
54'
Buonaiuto shoots high and wide from distance as Inter continue to hold on to their clean sheet. Candreva is then given a telling off by the referee for leading with his studs when attempting to win the ball.
52'
GOOD STOP FROM PADELLI! Benevento deserve a goal for their efforts today. The ball just will not go in the net, though, with Padelli producing a good save to tip Insigne's powerful shot over the crossbar following some good build-up play from the striker.
50'
Like Corda at the start of the half, the space opens up for Bandinelli. The shot is poor, though, with the midfielder dragging the ball well wide of the opposition target.
48'
L. Martínez has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by I. Perišić.
Perisic now has two assists in three minutes of playing time. The Croatia winger set up Dalbert at the end of the first half and picked out Martinez's head at the start of the second for Inter's fourth goal.
GOOOOAAALLLL!! INTER 4-0 BENEVENTO! This is a brilliant fourth goal from Inter. A move that starts at the back culminates in Persic chipping the ball into the middle for Martinez to power a header past Montipo from six yards.
47'
Benevento have come out for this second half fired up, but the quality is still lacking in front of goal. The space opens up for Coda to get a shot away from range, but the ball travels well over the target.
46'
M. Politano enters the game and replaces M. Icardi.
Inter, boasting a 3-0 lead, get us back underway at an empty San Siro.
The win already pretty much assured, Spalletti brings on Politano for opening goalscorer Icardi in his frontline.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: INTER 3-0 BENEVENTO
45' +1
Dalbert Henrique has scored a goal for Inter Milan! Assist by I. Perišić.
Perisic could well have taken on the shot from the edge of the box, but he instead showed good awareness but slotting in Dalbert to his left.
GOOOOAAAALLL!! INTER 3-0 BENEVENTO! Dalbert rifles the ball into the roof of the net to kill off the tie before half-time. Perisic plays a perfectly-weighted pass that is crying out for the full-back to smash home, and he does exactly that to get off the mark for Inter.
45'
Benevento have had eight shots to Inter's five in this first half, yet it is the home side who hold a two-goal lead. Padelli has been the busier of the two keepers, producing a couple of good stops either side of Candreva's goal.
43'
SAVE! Padelli intervenes to keep out Insigne's shot from a tight angle. The Benevento attacker did brilliantly to get away from a couple of men, but his shot may well have been curling away from goal.
40'
For pretty much the first time today, Benevento are struggling to get out of their own half. The visitors have done well since falling two goals down, but they are at risk of conceding a third before the interval as Inter attempt to knock down the door.
38'
GOOD STRIKE! Candreva gets a powerful effort on target from range, which was too central to beat Montipo. The ball dips in front of the keeper, but that is a save you would expect him to make.
36'
It's now Inter's turn to attack in what is turning out to be an end-to-end contest. Tuia defends the initial danger and Icardi cannot tee up the shot for Candreva from the next attack.
34'
CHANCE! Benevento create another good opportunity, which falls to their leading scorer Coda. The striker makes poor contact with the shot from inside the box, though, and Inter escape with just a corner being conceded.
32'
Ranocchia goes in very late on Buonaiuto with his studs showing and is fortunate to avoid seeing a yellow card. A goal for the visitors during his spell on top will completely change the complexion of the match.
30'
Letizia fires the ball across the face of goal but Padelli is there to gather. From the next attack, Improta shoots into the legs of Ranocchia to earn his side a corner kick.
28'
Coda switches play brilliantly by picking out Tello on the right-hand flank, but this latest Benevento move comes to a disappointing end. Inter have not really looked like adding to their advantage over the last 20 minutes.
26'
Benevento get the ball forward and a cross is aimed towards the back post, but the likes of Insigne and Coda are unable to get on the end of it. Up the other end, Icardi turns away from his man but overhits his pass for Martinez.
24'
Icardi peels off his man and plays the ball into the path of Perisic, whose shot in front of goal is blocked by a covering defender. Inter are just starting to build some momentum once again.
22'
Credit to Benevento for not feeling sorry for themselves following a terrible start to the match. Two down inside seven minutes, the visitors have more than held their own since Inter doubled their rally.
20'
CLOSE! Too many of Inter's attacks are coming to an end before a shot arrives. The visitors have arguably been the better side since Candreva found the net, with Improta sending a right-footed curler onto the roof of the net.
18'
R. Gagliardini gets yellow.
Improta goes on a positive run towards left-hand flank and is caught by Gagliardini, leading to the second booking of the first half. That is a lot better from the visitors, who are now starting to get at their opponents.
17'
Inter have had 64 per cent of the ball so far, the majority of that high up the field, and they have two goals to show for their dominance. Until they score a third, though, second-tier side Benevento still have a little hope.
16'
SHOT FROM RANGE! Tello, who had a shot kept out early on, tries his luck from much further back but the outcome is the same. A pretty straightforward save for Padelli to make on this occasion.
14'
One positive for Benevento is that they have kept out the opposition for seven minutes, but they will have to offer more of an attacking threat if they are to drag themselves back into the match. The home side are dominating possession at the moment.
12'
Š. Vrsaljko gets yellow.
Vrsaljko is the first player to receive a yellow card after halting a Benevento break down the left.
11'
Inter are in no mood to sit on their two-goal advantage, clearly sensing that they could score a few more today. Spalletti's men are already well on course for a quarter-final tie against Lazio.
9'
There is an eerie silence around San Siro, but the select few inside the ground have already been treated to a couple of goals. In-between the two goals, Tello had a close-range shot kept out by Padelli.
7'
A. Candreva has scored a goal for Inter Milan!
GOOOOAAALLL!! INTER 2-0 BENEVENTO! Seven minutes played and Inter already have themselves a second goal - this is not looking good for Benevento! Icardi sends a header against the post but Candreva is there to drill the rebound into the bottom corner.
5'
SAVE! Benevento's heads have not dropped since that early setback. Tello turns the ball towards goal from eight yards, but his shot is pretty much straight at Padelli and Inter clear their lines.
3'
Penalty goal scored by M. Icardi for Inter Milan!
GOOOAAALLL!!! INTER 1-0 BENEVENTO! Icardi places the ball out of Montipo's reach to open his account for 2019. An ominous start for Benevento, who have 87 minutes to respond.
2'
PENALTY TO INTER! Less than two minutes on the clock and Inter have already been awarded a penalty. Antei catches Candreva inside the box and there are few complaints from the visitors when the referee points to the spot.
1'
Benevento get us up and running at San Siro, which is almost completely empty today as punishment for alleged racism towards Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly. The winners of this tie will face Lazio, victorious against Novaro yesterday, in the next round.
Serie B side Benevento have already come through three rounds to make it to this stage, knocking out Udinese in the process, and they now face their toughest test yet against seven-time winners Inter. Despite their proud history in this competition, however, today’s hosts have not lifted the trophy since 2011.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Coppa Italia last-16 tie between Inter and Benevento at San Siro.
Inter subs: Samir Handanovic, Tommaso Berni, Stefan de Vrij, Matias Vecino, Keita Balde, Radja Nainggolan, Joao Mario, Matteo Politano, Kwadwo Asamoah, Borja Valero, Miranda, Danilo D'Ambrosio
INTER XI (4-3-3): Daniele Padelli; Sime Vrsaljko, Milan Skriniar, Andrea Ranocchia, Dalbert; Roberto Gagliardini, Antonio Candreva, Marcelo Brozovic; Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi (c), Ivan Perisic
BENEVENTO XI (4-4-2): Lorenzo Montipo; Gaetano Letizia (c), Alessandro Tuia, Luca Antei, Gianluca Di Chiara; Cristian Buonaiuto, Andres Tello, Filippo Bandinelli, Riccardo Improta; Massimo Coda, Roberto Insigne
Benevento subs: Pier Graziano Gori, Luca Sparandeo, Christian Maggio, Samuel Armenteros, Federico Ricci, Bright Gyamfi, Lorenzo Del Pinto, Andrea Costa, Marco Cuccurullo, Siriki Sanogo, Jean-Claude Billong, Gennaro Zagari
The two teams are now out on the field at San Siro and we are moments away from kick-off in this behind-closed-doors clash. Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina have already secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia - which of Inter or Benevento will remain in the hunt for some domestic silverware? Luciano Spalletti's side have won back-to-back matches in Serie A to leave themselves third in the table, 14 points adrift of leaders Juventus, while today’s opponents are sixth in Serie B after dropping points in two of their last four matches.
Inter can afford to take their foot off the gas in the second half as they hold a commanding three-goal lead at the midway stage of this last-16 tie. Icardi converted from the penalty spot three minutes in and Candreva, who won the spot kick, added a second five minutes later with a drilled finish into the bottom corner. Benevento arguably had the better of the first half from that point on, but the hosts rather cruelly added a third through Dalbert's powerful finish right on the brink of half-time.
The visitors still had a glimmer of hope of salvaging extra time at 2-0 down, but that Dalbert goal has surely killed things off. It may well be a case of damage limitation for the Serie B promotion chasers in the remaining 45 minutes, whereas Inter will be looking to add to their tally to kick off 2019 with a thumping win.
After kicking off 2019 with a big cup victory, Inter now turn their focus back to Serie A action as they prepare for the visit of Sassuolo in six days' time. Benevento, who can hold their heads high on the back of their best-ever run in the Coppa Italia, take on Lecce on their return to Serie B action next weekend.
Thanks for joining our coverage today. Until next time, goodbye!
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