Pato leads the way

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MILAN, Italy -- Alexandre Pato scored in extra time to give AC Milan a 2-1 win over Novara and put his team into the Italian Cup quarterfinals Wednesday but then exited with the latest in a series of muscle injuries.

In the 100th minute at the San Siro, Pato collected a pass from Robinho and smashed the ball into an empty net after beating an offside trap.

Robinho then nearly made it 3-1 when he hit the post in the 102nd and Pato then came off in the 116th.

Milan had taken the lead with a long shot from 19-year-old forward Stephen El Shaarawy in the 24th but Serbian midfielder Ivan Radovanovic equalized in the 88th with a low free kick.

Milan's 38-year-old striker Filippo Inzaghi made his first start in 16 months and was set up twice by El Sharaawy, but he couldn't take advantage of his opportunities and was replaced by Pato in the 58th.

Having missed most of last season following knee surgery and struggling to find playing time this season, Inzaghi hadn't started since Sept. 18, 2010.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rested in a match that came three days after Milan's 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the city derby.

In the quarterfinals, Milan will face Lazio, which edged Serie B side Verona 3-2.

The final quarterfinalist will be determined Thursday when defending champion Inter hosts Genoa, with the winner facing Napoli.

The other quarterfinal matchups are Juventus vs. Roma and Siena vs. Chievo Verona.