AS Roma edged closer to a first ever league and cup double by limping into the Italian Cup final after a 1-0 defeat at Udinese in Wednesday's second leg tie.

Claudio Ranieri's [ Images ] side, who lead Serie A by a point with four games left, went through 2-1 on aggregate thanks to February's 2-0 first-leg win.

Alexis Sanchez gave relegation-threatened Udinese a glimmer of hope nine minutes from time with a powerful shot from the right channel and the hosts could easily have levelled the tie late on when Bernardo Corradi headed straight at Julio Sergio.

Roma, who barely carved out a chance and had defender Marco Cassetti sent off for a second booking on 84 minutes, will meet title rivals Inter in the final in Rome on May 5 for the fifth time in six years.

Wednesday's defeat, coupled with losses to Panathinaikos in the Europa League [ Images ] last 32, constrast with a run of 24 games unbeaten in Serie A which has propelled the debt-laden club towards improbable glory.

"In the final minutes we were a little worried," Ranieri said. "It was better that our good run ended today, let's hope our form in the championship lasts."

Ranieri rested Francesco Totti [ Images ] on the bench with one eye on the title run-in and following the captain's thumbs-down gesture towards Lazio fans after Sunday's volatile city derby which landed him a hefty fine.