Eduardo howler hands Inter narrow win

An embarrassing mistake from goalkeeper Eduardo handed champions Inter a 1-0 victory away to Genoa last night. Ghana midfielder Muntari Sulley 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 games, a point behind leaders Lazio and one above Milan, who host Juventus tonight.

But Rafael Benitez’s side will also be counting the cost of this match having lost keeper Julio Cesar and Esteban Cambiasso to injuries.

Inter had the first clear chance of the game as 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 as Luca Toni beat Lucio and let fly from just outside the area but Cesar leapt to his left to beat it away.

Serie A top scorer Samuel Eto’o proved he was human with an incredible miss on 29 minutes as he ran onto Muntari’s inch-perfect pass but spooned his shot from 10 yards high and wide with only goalkeeper Eduardo to beat.

Marco Rossi should have scored for the hosts on 42 minutes following sustained Genoa pressure as Chico centred from the right but the midfielder scuffed his shot from eight yards and it bobbled wide.

Into added time Eduardo handed Inter a gift that had shades of England keeper Robert Green’s World Cup howler against USA about it.

Muntari shot from the distance but straight at the Portuguese, only for the ball to bounce in front of the keeper and over his shoulder and in.

Sneijder had a pair of chances from free-kicks but fired both over the bar before Cesar was forced off with a hamstring problem, replaced by Luca Castellazzi.

Genoa substitute Mattia Destro lost his balance as he shot from the edge of the area but then 11 minutes from time Domenico Criscito brilliantly took the ball on his chest only to send a volley arrowing just past Castellazzi’s left-hand post.

Cassano dropped

Italy forward Antonio Cassano has been dropped by Sampdoria following a dispute with club president Riccardo Garrone.

The 28-year-old reportedly argued with his club president on Tuesday and although he apologised during a meeting with Garrone on Thursday, coach Domenico Di Carlo ditched him from the match-day squad for tomorrow’s trip to Cesena.

Serie A

Played yesterday
Genoa 0
Inter 1
Muntari 45;

Today
Roma vs Lecce - 18.00
Milan vs Juventus - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bari vs Udinese
Brescia vs Napoli
Catania vs Fiorentina - 20.45
Cagliari vs Bologna
Cesena vs Sampdoria
Palermo vs Lazio - 12.30
Parma vs Chievo

Serie B

Playing today – 15.00
Atalanta vs Padova
Cittadella vs Grosseto
Empoli vs Crotone
Frosinone vs Triestina
Livorno vs Reggina
Novara vs AlbinoLeffe
Pescara vs Modena
Portogruaro vs Piacenza
Vicenza vs Varese

Monday
Sassuolo vs Siena - 19.00
Torino vs Ascoli - 21.00

Leading standings: Novara 25; Siena 22; Reggina 21; Padova, Empoli 19; Atalanta 18; Livorno 17; Vicenza 16.