LEAD: Caceres scores brace as Juve win at AC Milan

Feb 8, 2012, 22:22 GMT

Rome - Martin Caceres scored a brace for Juventus in 2-1 win Wednesday at AC Milan in a first-leg semi-final of the Italian Cup.

The Uruguayan defender, who returned in January to Juve, put the Serie A leaders ahead with a tap-in and curled a swerving winner after the hosts levelled from Stephan El Shaarawy.

In Juve's brisk first half at the Giuseppe Meazza, Emanuele Giaccherini came close on 34 minutes with a long-range shot deflected by a defender to threaten Marco Amelia.

The great deflection from the home goalkeeper highlighted a first fraction that saw the Turin guests hold the upper hand against the injury-plagued Devils, who had the young El Shaarawy playing upfront with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

El Shaarawy missed when he stormed on the left and tried from a tight angle, but had no problems firing home to equalize in the second half.

Caceres put the guests ahead on 53 minutes with a tap-in after Amelia managed to deflect a firm effort from Marco Borriello.

El Shaarawy laid in from close range nine minutes later off an assist headed from veteran Massimo Ambrosini.

A first telling effort from Ibrahimovic came two minutes later, when he fired a smashing free kick by the closest post but found Marco Storari ready to deflect as Juve struggled in a phase of massive pressing from the Devils.

The Bianconeri bounced back and found the winner on 83 minutes from a spectacular drive that Caceres drilled at the junction of bar and post, after controlling a loose ball at the edge of the box.

'I am very happy personally and for the team,' Caceres said. 'I find myself very well with (coach Antonio) Conte's team. We play game by game, and, if we can win, we do it.'

Juve remained unbeaten this season as they lead in the league with a game in hand and one more point than holders Milan.

The two powerhouses are to meet again in the league on February 25 and for the second-leg of the semi-final on March 21.

Siena and Napoli play the first leg of the other semi-final on Thursday.