Italian Cup: Jubilant Juventus

Torino’s Afriyie Acquah (left) vies for the ball with Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus in their Italian Cup match in Turin on Wednesday. Juventus won 4-0. — AP

Simone Zaza struck twice while Paulo Dybala and Paul Pogba added late goals as holders Juventus cruised into the Italian Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 rout of Torino on Wednesday.

After a poor start to the season, last year’s double winners Juve have enjoyed a Serie A revival to move within six points of leaders Inter Milan with one game remaining before the festive break.

And Massimiliano Allegri’s men provided some early Christmas cheer with a comprehensive victory over their bitter city rivals to maintain their chances of a second successive double.

“It was important for us to win this and get to the quarters, but now we’re thinking of Sunday’s game away to Carpi,” Allegri said.

“For the quality they have, they are an underestimated side,” he added.

Zaza, making a rare appearance amid reports of a January move to the English Premier League, put the hosts ahead with a cracking first-time strike on the half hour after great work on the left wing by Alvaro Morata.

The 24-year-old doubled Juve’s lead six minutes after the restart when he guided a low shot beyond Salvador Ichazo and into the far corner.

Dybala has scored in Juve’s past two league wins and made if three matches in a row with a well-taken strike in the 73rd minute after replacing Zaza eight minutes into the second half.

Pogba wrapped up the win with a superb free-kick eight minutes from time.

Serie A title hopefuls Roma fell 4-2 on penalties to Spezia after failing to find a way past the second division side after two periods of extra time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Fiorentina, who sit four points behind Serie A leaders Inter, suffered a 1-0 upset to second-from-bottom club Carpi.