Inter Milan 5-4 Genoa

PLAYING FOR THE first time under 36-year-old coach Andrea Stramaccioni, Internazionale secured a three-point return from their clash with Serie A strugglers Genoa at the San Siro this afternoon, but did so with precious little regard for convention.
Inter jumped into a three goal lead in the first half after a pair of strikes from Diego Milito and a Walter Samuel effort found the back of the net.

But the visitors hit back in first-half stoppage time through Emiliano Moretti to ensure they entered the second period hopeful, if not quite expectant, of returning to Genoa with a point.

Further encouragement arrived early in the second half when Inter captain Javier Zanetti – older than Stramaccioni by two years – conceded a penalty for hand-ball. Genoa striker Rodrigo Palacio converted from the spot to make it 3-2.

Inter went into this game with only one Serie A victory in 10 matches, but looked to have finished Genoa off when combustible Argentinian Mauro Zarate curled in a brilliant shot after 74 minutes.

The action had yet to reach its climax, however; two red cards and three penalties lay on the horizon.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Genoa midfielder Giuseppe Sculli were both dismissed for professional fouls, allowing Alberto Gilardino to score twice for Genoa and Milito to complete his hat-trick – and the most frenetic of goal-scoring afternoons- from the penalty spot.

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