This match had everything. Nine goals. Two red cards. Three penalties. Pepe Reina wasn't the only goalie sent off as Julio Cesar suffered the same fate bringing down Rodrigo Palacio. And Andrea Stramaccioni's debut win which rested on a very fine margin till the very last minute.
Inter went ahead as Diego Milito "El Principe" scored a brace including a thumping header off a Diego Forlan cross and then Walter Samuel combined with Lucio to put Inter in the driver's seat. Genoa narrowed the gap after a corner was blocked by Cesar but the ball looped towards Giuseppe Sculli who launched an athletic bicycle kick which deflected into goal off Emiliano Moretti. At half time Inter were ahead, 3-1.
On resumption of play, Javier Zanetti handled a cross from Sculli for a spot kick which Palacio successfully converted.
Mauro Zarate was recalled for this match and the ex-Lazio man produced a beautiful curling strike. The goal of the match and the weekend as Inter maintained a two goal cushion. Genoa weren't done yet as Palacio broke free and was brought down by Julio Cesar in the box. The Inter goalie was sent off without much ado and Alberto Gilardino was spot on with the penalty.
At the other end, Giuseppe Belluschi caught Fredy Guarin in a scissor tackle and the Colombian went tumbling for the match's third penalty. Belluschi received his marching orders and Milito completed his hat trick. Genoa dipped deep into its bag of tricks as an onrushing Sculli was scythed down by a high flying Lucio. Gilardino was at hand for his second penalty conversion.
Finally, the match wound to a close and a relieved Massimo Moratti broke into a smile. For Stramaccioni it was fist pumping time.
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