Yuto Nagatomo and Rodrigo Palacio scored as Inter Milan ran out deserved 2-0 winners against Genoa on Sunday to get Walter Mazzarri’s reign as coach off to a positive start.
Japanese defender Nagatomo broke the deadlock in the 75th minute when he nodded home on the line and Palacio sealed the points in stoppage time after latching on to Fredy Guarin’s through ball.
Inter, who endured a disastrous 2013 finishing ninth to miss out on European competition this term, had won only once in their last eight league games.
And for long periods this was an uncomfortable first league game in charge of the Nerazzurri for Mazzarri, who was brought in to replace the sacked Andrea Stramaccioni having taken Napoli to a second-place finish.
There were few real goalscoring chances to speak of in a tight first half, with Inter coming closest when Andrea Ranocchia got his head to Ricardo Alvarez’s corner in the 12th minute but saw his effort sail wide.
Mazzarri handed 20-year-old Argentine striker Mauro Icardi his league debut for the club when he replaced Zdravko Kuzmanovic early in the second half.
Icardi was excellent for Sampdoria last season but, when it finally arrived, the opening goal came from a less likely source.
Japanese full-back Nagatomo was the scorer, nodding home on the line as both he and Palacio fought to convert Jonathan’s deep cross from the right with Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin stranded.
Inter almost doubled their lead when Icardi’s header from Alvarez’s deep cross came off the bar, but they sealed their first win of the season right at the end when Palacio crept behind the Genoa defence on the edge of the area to meet Guarin’s through ball to beat Perin at his far post.
On Saturday, Inter’s city neighbours AC Milan were beaten 2-1 at promoted Hellas Verona, with the veteran Luca Toni scoring twice for the hosts, while summer signing Carlos Tevez netted the only goal as champions Juventus won at Sampdoria.
Napoli, now coached by Rafael Benitez, were due to host Bologna later on Sunday, while Lazio faced Udinese, Roma went to promoted Livorno and Fiorentina entertained Catania.
Nagatomo, Palacio on target in Inter win
