MILAN – Inter marked their first outing at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in 2013 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Pescara in Week 20 of Serie A.
The Nerazzurri were mostly in control of things from the start, with 18-year-old Marco Benassi giving an assured performance in midfield on his league debut. Palacio opened the scoring on the half-hour mark after Chivu's firm pass was dummied by Cassano, the Argentine striker shaking off his marker with a dip of the shoulder to fire clinically beyond Perin's despairing dive and take his tally for the season to 11. Inter had the chance to make it two in first-half stoppage time. Cassano's brilliant through ball picked out Jonathan and the Brazilian looped a cross-shot towards the far post, but Palacio wasn't able to get on the end of it.
Inter did manage to double their lead after the restart when Guarin scored in the 54th minute following an excellent build-up. Jonathan slid the ball into the path of Palacio and the Argentine pretended to cross before dragging the ball back and picking out Guarin on the edge of the six-yard box, enabling the Colombian to steer home with ease. Mudingayi made his return to the side as a 78th-minute substitute and shortly afterwards Pereira almost netted a third at the end of fast-flowing move: Perin parried his fierce drive.
The result sees Inter rise to 38 points in the standings.
Inter 2-0 Pescara (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Palacio 30, Guarin 54.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 6 Silvestre, 19 Cambiasso, 26 Chivu; 42 Jonathan, 4 Zanetti, 24 Benassi, 31 Pereira; 14 Guarin (Mudingayi 78); 8 Palacio (Milito 87), 99 Cassano (Rocchi 68).
Subs not used: 27 Belec, 77 Di Gennaro, 7 Coutinho, 17 Mariga, 20 Obi, 21 Gargano, 41 Duncan, 44 Bianchetti, 88 Livaja.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Pescara: 77 Perin; 14 Balzano, 88 Terlizzi, 5 Capuano, 11 Modesto; 20 Nielsen (Cascione 64), 18 Colucci, 8 Bjarnason; 17 Weiss (Caprari 82); 10 Celik (Abbruscato 77), 80 Jonathas.
Subs not used: 32 Pelizzoli, 41 Falso, 2 Zanon, 6 Romagnoli, 15 Bocchetti, 22 Vukusic, 26 Blasi.
Coach: Cristiano Bergodi.
Referee: Domenico Celi (Bari).
Booked: Palacio 46, Benassi 56, Celik 69.
Added time: 1 + 3 minutes.
Attendance: 39,118.
