Inter fights back against Monza to stay on top
Inter Milan was given a big scare by bottom club Monza before fighting back to win 3-2 at San Siro, extending its lead at the top of Serie A to four points.
The Nerazzurri rallied from two goals down to move to 61 points, with Napoli having the chance to cut its advantage back to a single point when it hosts Fiorentina on Monday (AEDT).
Monza, which has only won two league matches all season, stunned the home crowd in the 32nd minute when a clever one-two with Dany Mota sent Samuele Birindelli through on goal and he finished coolly.
Inter continued to press forward but Monza went two up when Mota found Keita Balde, who curled a beautiful strike into the far corner to mark his 30th birthday.
However, Monza was unable to retain the two-goal cushion until the interval.
In stoppage time, Henrikh Mkhitaryan floated the ball into the box and Denzel Dumfries headed across the six-yard box for Marko Arnautovic to bundle home almost immediately after Balde's strike.
Inter swarmed forward after the break and drew level in the 64th minute when a headed clearance fell to Yann Bisseck, whose lay-off was driven first-time into the bottom corner by Hakan Calhanoglu.
Monza was left clinging on from there, and goalkeeper Stefano Turati looked like he had pulled off a wonder save to prevent an own goal from Giorgos Kyriakopoulos in the 77th minute.
However, the goal line technology signalled that the Greek defender had diverted the ball over the line when under pressure from Inter skipper Lautaro Martinez.
Inter should have added more goals but Marcus Thuram hit the upright when he just needed to tap in from close range and Turati made a diving save to deny Calhanoglu a second goal.
