Inter Milan needed a late penalty from Stevan Jovetic to secure a 2-1 victory over Carpi in Serie A this evening.
Samir Handanovic had to make an early save for the visitors as the newly-promoted hosts tried their luck from range, with Lorenzo Lollo attempting to lob the keeper, but the veteran stopper was alert to the danger.
Inter soon started to dominate possession, with Davide Santon's ball into the box failing to find his teammates, before the Carpi defence cleared a low through-ball from Jovetic.
Rodrigo Palacio kept the home side under pressure as he sent a dangerous-looking ball into the box, while Jovetic tried to set up Gary Medel, but neither resulted in a chance for Inter.
The persistence paid off for the visitors shortly before half time, though, as Jovetic rounded a couple of defenders to force a shot at Zeljko Brkic, who parried the ball away, but the striker was in the right place to convert from the rebound.
Carpi had a couple of half-chances to level the scores before the interval, but Handanovic was left with an easy save when Kamil Wilczek hit his shot straight at the Inter keeper, while a Matteo Fedele strike comfortably cleared the crossbar.
Inter were on the hunt for a second to give themselves a more comfortable lead early in the second half, but Marcelo Brozovic had his effort blocked before Palacio volleyed wide.
The visitors continued to dominate possession as they looked to seal the victory, but chances remained at a premium as Carpi defended tightly, clearing crosses from Santon, Fredy Guarin and Brozovic all before the hour mark.
Jovetic wanted to add his second of the day when he lined up a free kick, but it was deflected behind for a corner, which Guarin would only head over.
Carpi started to see more of the ball inside the last 15 minutes, and thought that they had done enough to secure a point when Antonio di Gaudio unleashed a powerful strike at the first time of asking following a pass in from Kevin Lasagna, finding the bottom-right corner.
Inter were gifted a chance to head back in front with just a couple of minutes still to play, though, as Gabriel Silva brought Jovetic down, giving the striker a penalty, which he clinically dispatched to snatch the win for the visiting side.
The result gives Inter two wins in as many outings in the Italian top flight this season, leaving them third in the table, while Carpi sit bottom.
Sian Cowper
