Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi scored either side of halftime as AC Milan beat Arezzo 2-0 in the first leg of the Italian Cup quarter-finals on Thursday.
Gilardino received a pass from Clarence Seedorf in the 35th minute and dribbled around Arezzo goalkeeper Nicolas Bremec before shooting into an empty net.
Inzaghi came off the bench to replace Gilardino at half-time and beat the second-division side's offside trap in the 50th minute.
A goal by Arezzo defender Ernesto Terra in the 81st was annulled for a foul.
In the 86th, Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira had a dangerous shot stopped by a good save by Bremec.
Arezzo striker Daniele Martinetti received a yellow card for a tackle on Andrea Pirlo in the 25th. Pirlo appeared to injure his ankle and was carried off on a stretcher.
He later returned and played to the end.
Defender Leandro Grimi, a recent acquisition from Argentine club Racing Avellaneda, made his Milan debut in the final half-hour.
Willy Aubameyang, the 19-year-old who scored the winning goal against Juventus in the Trofeo Berlusconi exhibition, never got off the bench.
On Tuesday, two-time defending champion Inter Milan beat Empoli 2-0. AS Roma allowed a late goal in a 2-1 win over Parma on Wednesday, and Sampdoria defeated Chievo Verona 1-0.
Return legs are scheduled for next week.
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