Soccer Football - Serie A - Genoa v Inter Milan - Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy - August 17, 2024 Genoa's Alessandro Vogliacco scores their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
GENOA, Italy (Reuters) -Inter Milan's Serie A title defence began unconvincingly with a 2-2 draw at Genoa on Saturday as a last-gasp goal from Junior Messias secured a point for the hosts.
Inter, missing key players Stefan de Vrij and Piotr Zielinski, could not find the margins to start their campaign with a win, despite a brace from striker Marcus Thuram.
Alessandro Vogliacco gave Genoa a shock lead after 20 minutes by tapping in a rebound off the bar.
Ten minutes later, Thuram showcased his aerial prowess by heading in a lofted cross from Niccolo Barella to level the scores.
Thuram almost earned Inter a penalty when Genoa captain Milan Badelj appeared to trip him in the box, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Inter intensified their attack after the break, but Federico Dimarco’s effort was ruled out for offside, prompting manager Simone Inzaghi to receive a yellow card for his vehement protests about the decision.
However, Inzaghi could take solace in the fact that his Genoa counterpart, Alberto Gilardino, also received a yellow card minutes later, seemingly for a outburst of frustration directed at the referee.
Inter's offensive pressure paid off six minutes from the end, as Thuram ran on to a through ball and clipped a neat finish over Genoa keeper Pierluigi Gollini.
In the dying moments of stoppage time, however, Yann Bisseck’s header into his own hands led to Messias' penalty being saved by Yann Sommer before the Brazilian turned in the rebound.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond)
