By DPA
Milan : A brace from the in-form striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic led champions Inter Milan to snatch a 2-0 win against Tuscany hosts Empoli in a game that opened the second weekend of the Italian Serie A.
The Swedish star confirmed Saturday to be Inter’s most inspired player in early season when he put the champions ahead after 14 minutes, connecting with a Douglas Maicon cross to score from close-range despite a tight angle.
His striking mate David Suazo saw Daniele Balli dive to deflect his fast drive from under the bar just before the break, while the Tuscany underdogs had good first-half chances through Luca Saudati and Luca Antonini.
The home crowd complained right after Ibrahimpvic’s goal as the spurting Saudati was floored in the area and on 35 minutes were disappointed to watch a smashing shot from Antonini fly wide by a whisker to the left of Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Suazo opened the second half with a fast spurt and a shot that forced Balli’s great deflection, but a rough period awaited Inter, beginning with a Davide Moro long-distance drive that Toldo punched away on 55 minutes.
The veteran goalkeeper, who was filling in for the suspended Julio Cesar, on 62 minutes had some problems deflecting a dangerous cross from Vittorio Tosto and miraculously managed to save with his foot a header from Nicola Pozzi on 68 minutes.
Just when Inter seemed close to capitulating under the hosts’ pressure, Ibrahimovic secured his side’s win ruthlessly beating Balli as he topped a counter attack with an accurate shot seven minutes from the end.
Inter now have four points from two games, one more than title contenders AS Roma, AC Milan and Juventus, who are still to play respective weekend games against Siena, Fiorentina and Cagliari.