Inter Beat Lecce 2-0 in Serie A Home Opener

Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
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Inter Beat Lecce 2-0 in Serie A Home Opener

Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Serie A - Inter Milan v Lecce - San Siro, Milan, Italy - August 24, 2024 Inter Milan's Matteo Darmian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Alberto Lingria Purchase Licensing Rights

Champions Inter Milan beat Lecce 2-0 at home in Serie A as goals from Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu secured Simone Inzaghi's side their first win of the season.

Inter, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Genoa last weekend, were well in control of the match and provisionally moved top of the table with four points, Reuters reported.

Darmian gave Inter the lead inside five minutes after the ball bounced up in front of the defender who headed it into the net.

Calhanoglu doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, after Inter were awarded a spot-kick for Kialonda Gaspar's foul on Marcus Thuram.

Calhanoglu converted his 17th penalty out of 17 in the Italian top flight.

Inter were without captain Lautaro Martinez, last season's top scorer, who was sidelined with a muscle problem.

Lecce, who kicked off their third consecutive season in Serie A with a 4-0 home defeat by Atalanta last week, play Cagliari on Aug. 31.

Rivals AC Milan were stunned in a 2-1 loss at promoted Parma earlier on Saturday, and 10-man Udinese beat Lazio 2-1 before Genoa earned a 1-0 win at Monza to move up to second in the standings.



Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
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Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Erling Haaland missed a penalty as Manchester City was held 1-1 by Everton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Haaland had the chance to set the four-time defending champion on course for only its second win in 13 games when stepping up for a 53rd minute spot kick at the Etihad Stadium. But he was denied by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as City's woeful recent run was extended, The Associated Press reported.

Pep Guardiola's team has lost nine of its last 13 games in all competitions. The draw means City picked up only its fifth point in the league since the end of October.

Bernardo Silva's deflected shot gave City the lead in the 14th, but Iliman Ndiaye leveled the score in the 36th.

The result leaves City sixth in the standings and 11 points behind leader Liverpool, having played two games more.

Haaland missed penalty means the Norway international has only scored one in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

City's grip on its title was further loosened by more dropped points. Liverpool had the chance to extend its lead over the champion when playing Leicester in the later kick off.