By Xinhua
Rome : Defending champion Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese while city rivals AC Milan notched a 3-0 win at Genoa on the opening weekend of the new Serie A football league season in Italy.
AS Roma won 2-0 at Palermo Sunday with goals from Philippe Mexes and Alberto Aquilani.
At the San Siro, Inter defender Ivan Cordoba headed the ball into his own net following an Udinese corner in second-half injury time. Dejan Stankovic had put Inter ahead after just nine minutes but the Serie A champions were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Julio Cesar was sent off for a handball outside the area in the 56th minute.
Kaka scored twice and Massimo Ambrosini added another as AC Milan cruised against Genoa, which returned to Serie A after a 12-season absence.
Ambrosini headed in a free kick by Andrea Pirlo in the 21st and Kaka angled in a shot after Massimo Oddo ran up the right flank in the 44th. Kaka also converted a penalty in first-half injury time after Alberto Gilardino was tripped by Genoa goalkeeper Rubens Rubinho.
Filippo Inzaghi was rested by the UEFA Champions League title holders Milan for Friday’s European Super Cup against Sevilla, the UEFA Cup winners from last season.
In Palermo, Mexes redirected a cross from Rodrigo Taddei to put Roma ahead three minutes in and Aquilani scored from 25 metres in the 27th as Italy coach Roberto Donadoni looked on from the stands.
Napoli’s return to the top flight after six years was spoiled with a 2-0 loss to visiting Cagliari.
Fiorentina beat Empoli 3-1 in a Tuscan derby with goals from Gianpaolo Pazzini, Adrian Mutu and Riccardo Montolivo.
Former Roma forward Vincenzo Montella scored an 86th-minute winner as freshly stocked Sampdoria beat Siena 2-1.
Catania’s 19-year-old Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto scored once and set up another goal in a 2-2 draw with Parma.
Catania coach Silvio Baldini was expelled in the 85th and kicked Parma manager Domenico di Carlo in the backside on his way out.
Reggina and Atalanta drew 1-1. Nicola Amoruso headed in for Reggina in the 77th and Cristiano Doni converted a penalty for Atalanta in the 84th.