An embarrassing mistake from Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo handed champions Inter a 1-0 victory away to Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Friday.
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari scored the winner three minutes into first-half stoppage-time, but it was Eduardo’s gaffe that proved crucial.
Inter moved second ahead of the weekend’s games, a point behind leaders SS Lazio and one above city rivals AC Milan, but Rafael Benitez’s side will also be counting the cost of this match having lost goalkeeper Julio Cesar and midfielder Esteban Cambiasso to injuries.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Inter had the first clear chance of the game on 13 minutes when French winger Jonathan Biabiany went on a mazy run, beating three players and slipping the ball to Wesley Sneijder, whose shot sent Eduardo plunging to his right to gather at the second attempt.
Genoa threatened next on 21 minutes when Luca Toni ran at the Inter defense, beat Lucio and let fly from just outside the area, but Cesar leapt to his left to beat it away.
Giandomenico Mesto was then well-placed to shoot on 24 minutes, but curled his effort gently into Cesar’s arms.
Following 15 goals in 13 games before this one, Serie A top scorer Eto’o proved he was human with an incredible miss on 29 minutes as he ran onto Muntari’s pass, but spooned his shot from 10m high and wide with only Eduardo to beat.
Inter fullback Davide Santon was then lucky to stay on the pitch after driving his studs into Chico’s head, receiving only a booking.
Marco Rossi should have scored for the hosts on 42 minutes following sustained Genoa pressure after Chico centered from the right, but the midfielder scuffed his shot and it bobbled wide.
Into first-half stoppage-time Eduardo handed Inter a gift that had shades of England goalkeeper Robert Green’s World Cup howler against the US about it.
Muntari shot from distance, but straight at the Portuguese, only for the ball to bounce in front of the goalkeeper and bounce over his shoulder and in.
Sneijder created a glorious chance for Biabiany seven minutes after the restart with a flicked ball over the defense, but Eduardo came out to block and make amends for his earlier error.
Sneijder had a pair of chances from free-kicks, but fired both over the bar, before Cesar was forced off with a hamstring problem.
Cesar was replaced by Luca Castellazzi, who saved comfortably from a Luca Toni header.
Genoa substitute Mattia Destro lost his balance as he shot from the edge of the area and then 11 minutes from time, Domenico Criscito brilliantly took the ball on his chest, only to send his volley arrowing just past Castellazzi’s left-hand post.
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