MILAN - Inter have beaten Sampdoria 3-2 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in driving rain, and move to 24 points in the table.
The hosts created chances in the first period yet it was the visitors who took the lead on 20 minutes. Samuel and Ranocchia got in a tangle from Tissone's free-kick and Munari was there to pounce. The Nerazzurri equalised after the interval though, as Milito scored from the spot on 53 minutes. Costa brought the Argentine down from behind, and the referee rightly awarded Inter a penalty and gave the Sampdoria defender his marching orders. 'El Principe' then dispatched the spot-kick and punished the visitors who were now a man light.
Inter then made use of their powerful front line, first through Milito who hit the post, before Palacio scored the Nerazzurri's second after 68 minutes, after Cassano had broken well. Fant'Antonio then struck the crossbar from a free-kick. Inter's third goal arrived ten minutes from time: Nagatomo broke forward, waited for Cassano to arrive and then fed his team-mate. The man from Bari then rolled the ball to his right where Guarin skipped past Estigarribia before lashing a shot past Romero. Eder grabbed an injury time consolation for the visitors but it was Inter who emerged with all three points.
Inter 3-2 Sampdoria (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Munari 20, Milito 53 (pen), Palacio 68, Guarin 81, Eder 90+4.
Inter: 1
Handanovic; 4 Zanetti, 23 Ranocchia (Silvestre 84), 25 Samuel, 31
Pereira (Nagatomo 61); 16 Mudingayi (Cambiasso 46), 21 Gargano,
14 Guarin; 8 Palacio, 99 Cassano, 22 Milito.
Subs not used: 12 Castellazzi, 27 Belec, 11 Alvarez, 41 Duncan, 44 Bianchetti, 88 Livaja.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Sampdoria:
22 Romero; 13 Berardi (De Silvestri 53), 28 Gastaldello, 35 Rossini,
3 Costa; 11 Munari, 12 Tissone, 16 Poli (Renan 59, Maxi
Lopez 78); 2 Estigarribia, 21 Soriano, 23 Eder.
Subs not used: 32 Berni, 7 Castellini, 8 Mustafi, 15 Poulsen, 19 De Silvestri, 29 Juan Antonio, 93 Savic, 95 Falcone, 98 Icardi.
Coach: Ciro Ferrara.
Referee: Daniele Doveri (Rome).
Booked: Mudingayi 32, Munari 79.
Sent off: Costa 51.
Added time: 0+4 minutes.
