Sulley Muntari scored a fortuitous goal to give Serie A defending champions Inter a 1-0 win over Genoa yesterday.

They are now only one point behind leaders Lazio.

The Ghanaian scored in first-half injury time when he collected the ball outside the area and shot.

The ball appeared to be heading comfortably into Genoa goalkeeper Eduardo’s grasp, but bounced at the last minute and deflected off the Portuguese into the net.

There were two injury worries for Inter coach Rafael Benitez ahead of its match with Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso came off midway through the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar then made way for Luca Castellazzi after the break.

GenoaI have not beaten Inter since their return to Serie A, losing four and drawing three of their seven matches in all competitions. The home side started brightly, going close twice in the first 10 minutes.

Inter’s best chance of the first half came when Muntari played Eto’o through with a wonderful slide rule pass just before the half-hour mark but the Cameroon international couldn’t convert.

Roma went close to equalising in the second half.

Toni troubled him 10 minutes later, catching Lucio unawares and leaping to reach a long diagonal ball from Milanetto, which he nodded down only for Castellazzi to smother.

Criscito nearly equalised on the 77th minute, chesting down a ball just outside of the box, which he swiped at goal, seeing it miss by a whisker.

Toni would also see a flick saved and hit the side netting, but Inter managed to hold out and move up into second in Serie A at least for 24 hours.