MILAN: On a night of wild swings in Serie A, Inter Milan came from two goals down Friday to beat Empoli and later Juventus conceded two late goals to lose at Genoa.

In Milan, Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter fought back to beat Empoli 4-2 and jump to the top of Serie A.

“The team showed character. We’re here,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi on DAZN.

In the late game, Juve dominated relegation-haunted Genoa only to concede an 87th minute equaliser and a 96th minute penalty, converted by Domenico Criscito, who had missed a late derby penalty a week earlier.

“Football gives and takes,” said Criscito.

Inter’s victory put defending champions one point ahead of AC Milan, who can regain top spot with a win at ninth-placed Verona on Sunday in their bid to secure a first Scudetto since 2011. Empoli remain 14th on 37 points.

Juve, who have already qualified for next season’s Champions League, started the evening mathematically still in the title race. They ended it still in fourth on 69 points, a point behind Napoli, and nine points behind Inter with two games left.

Inter struggled considerably in the first half at the San Siro against an Empoli side who have won just once in their last 20 games in all competitions and soon found themselves 2-0 down.

The visitors shocked Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in the fifth minute when striker Andrea Pinamonti latched on to a brilliant low cross from Szymon Zurkowski to score his 13th goal of the season.

The 22-year-old, who recently netted against AC Milan, Roma and twice against Napoli, did not celebrate scoring on Friday as he is on loan from Inter.

Empoli scored again five minutes later through Szymon Zurkowski but the goal was disallowed by VAR due to an offside but they doubled their lead in the 28th minute.

Defender Riccardo Fiamozzi sent a long ball into the box and Kristjan Asllani rifled it past Handanovic, who rushed out to stop him, while Milan Skriniar failed to clear the ball off the line.

But Inzaghi’s side were level by halftime with Empoli captain Simone Romagnoli putting through his own net five minutes before the break and Martinez found the right corner for his 18th league goal of the campaign just before the whistle.

The Argentina international bagged his second of the evening in the 64th minute when he fired a rebound past the keeper to put the hosts ahead for the first time, before Alexis Sanchez sealed all three points in injury time.

“This comeback victory against a very well organised opponent gives me great confidence,” said Inzaghi.

While Inter must wait to discover their fate in the title race, they will have a chance to win a trophy on Wednesday when they face Juve in the Coppa Italia final.

Friday’s loss was only Juve’s second defeat in their last 22 games. Juve barely threatened Genoa’s goal in the first half, sending only one shot on target in 45 minutes.

“A defeat for which we are sorry,” Allegri told reporters. “There was a moment when Genoa were in trouble, but we didn’t get in control of the game. And then, when you go on the counter-attack, you have to finish the move and if the opposing team has no more legs, you have to keep on pressing them.”

The visitors could have opened the scoring in the eighth minute but forward Moise Kean’s header flew just over the crossbar.

Paulo Dybala had another great opportunity just before the break but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

The Argentine international eventually found the back of the net three minutes into the second half after his low shot aimed at the right corner gave the visitors the long-awaited lead.

Dybala equalled the tally of former striker Roberto Baggio, with both having scored 115 times for the club.

Juve could have had a two-goal advantage by the 70th minute, but Dybala’s brilliant strike bounced off the far post.

But winger Albert Gudmundsson revived Genoa’s hopes of remaining in the top flight when he sent Nadiem Amiri’s pass inside the right post three minutes before the end of regular time.

Nine minutes later, defender Criscito belted in the spot kick, giving goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny no chance.

The home fans exploded with joy, knowing that the three points boosted their side’s chances of preserving their Serie A status.

Genoa are 19th with 28 points, just one point away from the safety zone with two games remaining. They next travel to third-placed Napoli on May 15 before hosting Bologna the following week.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2022