AC Milan left it late to secure their passage to the quarter final of the Coppa Italia after a 2-1 win against Sassuolo at San Siro this evening.

Giampaolo Pazzini's opener was cancelled out by Nicola Sansone's penalty, but it was Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong who fired in the winner late on.

Milan defender Alex was fortunate not to be punished by Leonardo Pavoletti when he slipped attempting a pass to Cristian Zapata early on.

Pavoletti had another chance to give his side the lead shortly before the half-hour mark but he fired an effort wide at the near post after good build-up from the visitors.

Pazzini responded for the Rossoneri but he couldn't direct his shot on target, before Stephan El Shaarawy fired over the bar after a mazy run.

However, Milan didn't have to wait much longer for their goal and it was Pazzini who opened the scoring by volleying into the bottom corner.

Pazzini was denied a second after the restart when his powerful header was well saved by Sassuolo goalkeeper Alberto Pomini.

The visitors evened things up from the penalty spot when Nicola Sansone converted from 12 yards after Pavoletti was fouled by Zapata's challenge after the hour mark.

There was nearly a mix-up between Alex and Christian Abbiati on 72 minutes and the goalkeeper was forced to concede a corner after the Brazilian defender had failed to clear the ball from under his own crossbar.

De Jong gave Milan the win late on when he reacted quickest to convert after Andrea Poli had hit the post.