Soccer-Mourinho's Inter return ruined as Sanchez strike knocks Roma out of cup

ROME (Reuters) -Alexis Sanchez's unstoppable long-range strike sealed Inter Milan's 2-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final win over AS Roma on Tuesday, after Jose Mourinho received a hero's welcome at San Siro in his first game as an opposing coach at his former club.

Edin Dzeko powered home a volley inside the opening two minutes to put Inter ahead, and Nicolo Barella was inches from a second when he smashed a shot off the bar.

Chile forward Sanchez lashed a shot into the top corner from 25 yards after the break to set up a semi-final against AC Milan or Lazio, who face off on Wednesday.

It was an emotional night for Mourinho, who led Inter to back-to-back Serie A titles and an unprecedented treble during two seasons at the club between 2008 and 2010, as the home fans sang his name and unveiled a banner saying: "Welcome home Jose".

“The way they welcomed me here, the directors gave me a beautiful gift and then the fans were very nice to me, this is the emotional side. I can only say thank you. I will never hide my eternal relationship with Inter," Mourinho told Mediaset.

“But I came here to win, for my Roma and my people, and we didn’t manage to. Apart from the first five minutes we played very well.”

Juventus face Sassuolo and Fiorentina take on Atalanta in the remaining quarter-finals on Thursday.

Mourinho’s first season at Roma has been filled with ups and downs, but the Inter fans left no doubt about their high regard for the Portuguese boss as they celebrated his return, 4,293 days after his last game in charge in May 2010.

However, Mourinho was soon left with little to smile about as an Inter side looking for an instant response to their weekend Milan Derby defeat started fast.

Less than two minutes were on the