Sassuolo upset Inter, Dzeko hits stunner
MILAN: A late Edin Dzeko stunner got AS Roma off the mark in their Serie A campaign at Torino on Sunday but Inter Milan made the worst possible start with a 1-0 loss at Sassuolo.
Roma’s win meant the top three from last year’s campaign all won their opening round of matches.
Champions Juventus, with new superstar signing Cristiano Ronaldo making his debut, won 3-2 at Chievo on Saturday with runners-up Napoli coming back to win 2-1 at Lazio.
But Inter Milan — fourth last season — suffered an early upset after Domenico Berardi slotted in a 27th-minute penalty to give all three points to their rivals from Modena.
“This has complicated everything,” said Inter coach Luciano Spalletti.
“Sassuolo did well on the counter-attack, they were compact without giving anything.
“We lost the game because of a penalty and Sassuolo didn’t create many chances.”
Earlier, Roma’s only goal came one minute from time following spectacular play by new Dutch signing Justin Kluivert, son of former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert.
The 19-year-old came on as a secondhalf substitute, running down the right flank, dribbling past past three players to provide the crucial cross which Dzeko lashed into the far top corner.
“It was a great cross, and I scored even better goal!” Dzeko joked.
“Last year I scored one that was maybe a bit better [against Chelsea], but this is among the best three. I saw Kluivert on the right and hoped he would cross it to the back post, which is fortunately what he did. He definitely changedthe game.”