Inter Milan moved to the top of the Serie A table thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Udinese at the San Siro.
Lucio put Inter ahead after six minutes, but Antonio F
loro Flores deservedly levelled after 31.
Samuel Eto'o scored the winner in the 67th minute after his penalty was saved to earn Inter coach Rafael Benitez his first win in Serie A.
Inter were in need of an early goal to settle the nerves following their disappointing goalless draw with Bologna on the opening day of the season, and they got it.
Wesley Sneijder's corner was tipped beyond the far post by Samir Handanovic, but Lucio was waiting and provided a composed finish, picking his spot beyond the Udinese goalkeeper back into the opposite corner.
Udinese responded well and the lively Alexis Sanchez almost provided a chance for Antonio Di Natale to level in the 10th minute, but his low cross was just behind his strike partner.
Sanchez then provided the cross from which Floro Flores equalised after half an hour.
He stole in between Walter Samuel and Lucio to head the ball unstoppably past Julio Cesar from close range.
Diego Milito almost restored Inter's advantage immediately, but Handanovic got his fingertips to his shot to push the ball just wide for a corner, from which Samuel headed just inches wide of the other upright.
McDonald Mariga should have put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 57th minute, but he shot straight at Handanovic from eight yards. But Udinese substitute Gabriel Angella then gifted Inter the chance to go ahead again when he handled Sneijder's cross inside the area.
The penalty was inevitable and Eto'o stepped up only to see his shot saved by Handanovic. However, the ball rebounded out to the Cameroon hitman, who made sure with the follow-up.
Eto'o hit the post in the 83rd minute, but he was the only one still trying for the home side, who had long since opted to defend their slender advantage.
They did so without any major scares to win their first game of the Serie A season and move provisionally to the top of the table.
( ESPN )
