Inter lost 4-3 at Palermo in their Serie A opener on Sunday as new coach Gian Piero Gasperini lost on his debut for the Italian powerhouse.
In Inter’s first match since Samuel Eto’o transferred to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, the biggest problem for Gasperini was his porous three-man defense.
Palermo captain Fabrizio Miccoli scored two key goals, including one in the 86th minute that broke a 2-2 deadlock, while South Americans Abel Hernandez and Mauricio Pinilla also found the target for the Sicilians.
Photo: EPA
It was the first time Inter had let in four goals in a league match in more than seven years, since they were defeated 4-1 by AS Roma in March 2004.
“We struggled with their counterattack, and obviously those situations are not acceptable and must be improved,” Gasperini said.
Diego Milito scored twice for Inter and newly signed Diego Forlan pulled one back for the visitors in second-half stoppage-time.
Elsewhere in Serie A, it was: Catania 0, AC Siena 0; Chievo Verona 2, Novara Calcio 2; Fiorentina 2, Bologna 0; Genoa 2, Atalanta BC 2; Lecce 0, Udinese 2; and AS Roma 1, Cagliari 2.
On a warm night in the Sicilian capital, Inter started with 11 foreigners and all three substitutes were also non-Italian.
Milito, who missed much of last season injured, put Inter ahead by redirecting a shot from Dejan Stankovic with a slight deflection in the 30th minute.
Miccoli equalized in the 48th minute from the center of the area and Milito then restored Inter’s lead with a penalty in the 51st minute, but Palermo equalized again in the 54th minute when Miccoli set up Hernandez.
Miccoli curled a free-kick over Inter’s wall for the winner in the 86th minute and Pinilla made it 4-2 by surprising Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar from outside the area in the 88th minute.
Julio Cesar accepted the blame for Palermo’s last two goals, saying he could not see the diminutive Miccoli during the free-kick and he was out of position for Pinilla’s goal.
“I was having a good match, then I ruined everything with those two goals I allowed,” the Brazil international said.
Gasperini became unsatisfied with newly signed striker Mauro Zarate and replaced the Argentine with standout playmaker Wesley Sneijder — a curious choice for substitute — in the 34th minute.
Sneijder set up Forlan’s goal, but Inter won’t have the Uruguay forward for their Champions League opener tomorrow against Turkish side Trabzonspor because they found out late that he is cup-tied after transferring from Atletico Madrid.
While Inter’s troubles weren’t all that surprising, Palermo’s success was startling, considering that the club sold forward Javier Pastore and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to Paris Saint-Germain over the summer.
Also, Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini fired coach Stefano Pioli on Aug. 31, handing the team over to youth squad coach Devis Mangia.
“Mangia did a great job,” Miccoli said. “We were able to create a team in 10 days.”
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