MILAN: Marcus Thuram earned revenge on Romelu Lukaku for Serie A’s top dogs Inter Milan with the decisive goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over AS Roma, as champions Napoli came back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at home against AC Milan.

Inter have 25 points from 10 games and lead Juventus by two points after Thuram guided home Federico Dimarco’s low cross with nine minutes remaining at a pulsating, shrieking San Siro where his World Cup-winning father Lilian was watching on.

France forward Thuram was charged with filling the shoes of Lukaku who enraged fans, his old team-mates and the club hierarchy by the way he eyed moves away to Milan and third-placed Juve, whilst Inter tried to secure a permanent deal from Chelsea in the summer.

The 26-year-old is repaying the faith Simone Inzaghi has shown in him with five goals and as many assists in all competitions alongside Lukaku’s former strike partner Lautaro Martinez.

“We wanted to take three points and we did. I scored and I helped the team win,” said Thuram. “I’m happy about that and I’m not interested in anything else.”

Lukaku returned to San Siro but had little impact as the home defence effectively marked him out of the game as Roma, whose manager Jose Mourinho was suspended and watched the game from the press box, were left in eighth place with 14 points.

Inter’s lead at the summit was extended to two points thanks to Napoli’s comeback in Naples, Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori earning the hosts a point after they trailed Milan by two at half-time.

Napoli are seven points behind Inter in fourth while third-placed Milan were left three behind their local rivals and wondering what could have been after two classic Olivier Giroud headed goals had the away side deservedly in front at the break.

Earlier, Cagliari pulled off the greatest comeback in Serie A history when they recovered from 3-0 down at home to Frosinone to win 4-3, with Leonardo Pavoletti contributing two goals in added time.

The Sardinian team found themselves 3-0 behind in the 49th minute after letting in a goal by Marco Brescianini and a first-half brace by Matias Soule. Their comeback did not begin until the 72nd when substitute Gaetano Oristanio scored and four minutes later Antoine Makoumbou made it 3-2.

Second-half substitute Pavoletti, levelled the tie in the 94th minute and two minutes later grabbed the winner as Cagliari won their first game of the season and climbed off the bottom of the table.

No team had ever gone on to win a Serie A game when 3-0 down going into the final 20 minutes.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2023