Eduardo howler hands Inter narrow Genoa win

An embarrassing mistake from Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo handed champions Inter Milan a 1-0 victory away to Genoa at the Marrassi stadium on Friday.

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 city rivals AC Milan, who host Juventus on Saturday night.

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

Inter had the first clear chance of the game on 13 minutes as French winger Jonathan Biabiany went on a mazy run, beating three players and slipping the ball to Wesley Sniejder, whose shot sent Eduardo plunging to his right to gather at the second attempt.

Genoa threatened next on 21 minutes as Luca Toni ran at the Inter defence, beat Lucio and let fly from just outside the area but Cesar leapt to his left to beat it away.

Giandomenico Mesto was then well placed to shoot on 24 minutes but curled his effort gently into Cesar’s arms.

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 Eduardo to beat.

Inter full-back Davide Santon was lucky to stay on the pitch after driving his studs into Chico’s head, receiving only a booking.

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 first half stoppage time Eduardo handed Inter a gift that had shades of England goalkeeper Robert Green’s World Cup howler against USA about it.

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

Sneijder created a glorious chance for Biabiany seven minutes after the restart with a flicked ball over the defence but Eduardo came out to block and make amends for his earlier error.

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, who saved comfortably from a Luca Toni header.

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.