CAGLIARI, Italy: Inter Milan earned a 2-0 away win over Cagliari on Saturday thanks to an early goal from Lautaro Martinez and a late strike by substitute Francesco Pio Esposito, and moved up to fifth in the Serie A standings.
Cristian Chivu’s Inter desperately needed a win to avoid losing touch at the top at this early stage of the season, having suffered two losses in their opening four games, and a second successive victory keeps them in touch with their title rivals.
Inter are on nine points, three off leaders Napoli who are at AC Milan on Sunday, while Cagliari remain on seven points, dropping to 10th spot.
The visitors’ job was made easier with a ninth-minute lead when Alessandro Bastoni put a cross into the area and Martinez rose to send his header into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard box.
Cagliari are the Inter striker’s favorite opponents, with Martinez netting his 12th goal against the hosts, who failed to live up to expectations having lost just once previously this season, that defeat coming against champions Napoli.
The opening half was a scrappy, physical affair, constantly interrupted by the referee’s whistle, where Cagliari never threatened Inter’s early lead, with not a single shot, on or off target, registered before the break.
With Inter unable to create any real chances to increase their lead however, the game remained delicately poised going into the second half.
Inter began to turn the screw after the break, Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike from outside the area crashing off the upright, and Marcus Thuram drove through on goal but his effort was saved by keeper Elia Caprile.
Esposito was brought on by Inter, the 20-year-old striker coming up against his older brother Sebastiano.
Sebastiano, on loan at Cagliari from Inter, had a rare chance for the hosts from a corner but his volley attempt at the back post was well off target.
Inter were given a warning about their fragile lead when Michael Folorunsho smashed a header off the post from Esposito’s corner and the visitors duly responded.
Davide Frattesi had a goalbound shot cleared off the line by Cagliari defender Riyad Idrissi and minutes later substitute Esposito scored his first Serie A goal.
Federico Dimarco pulled back the ball from the byline in the area and the unmarked Esposito was there to steer his shot into the back of the net and wrap up the win with eight minutes remaining.
