Lukaku guides Inter to beat Genoa

Photo: Collected

Romelu Lukaku scored two goals and set up another as Inter Milan beat relegation-threatened Genoa 4-0 on Saturday to move level on points with Juventus at the top of the Serie A table heading into the winter break.

Lukaku could have had a hat trick but allowed teenage forward Sebastiano Esposito to take a second-half penalty. The 17-year-old Esposito converted for his first goal on his first Serie A start.

Esposito was in tears after the match when he immediately went up to hug his mother.

Esposito became Inter’s second-youngest goal-scorer after Mario Corso. He stepped up to the senior ranks this season and had an impressive Champions League debut in October, despite having only previously played 17 minutes for Inter’s first team.

Inter needed the win to spend the festive period joint top of the table after Juventus won at Sampdoria midweek.

However, Inter was on a three-match winless streak that had seen it slip to second and crash out of the Champions League, and Lukaku’s strike partner, Lautaro Martinez was suspended.

Genoa was second from bottom and had lost its previous six matches at Inter, scoring just once.

Inter broke the deadlock with two goals in quick succession. Lukaku headed in Antonio Candreva’s cross in the 31st minute and turned provider two minutes later for Roberto Gagliardini’s deflected strike.

Lukaku could have doubled his tally shortly after the hour mark when Inter was awarded a penalty for Kevin Agudelo’s foul on Gagliardini. But Belgium forward gave the ball to Esposito, who celebrated wildly after converting.

Lukaku did get a second in the 71st, taking his tally to 12 in Serie A since his move from Manchester United in the offseason.

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