Genoa, Italy – Rodrigo Palacio scored on each side of halftime on Wednesday as Inter Milan posted a 2-0 win over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, bringing the club into Serie A's top five in the process.
Coming off a 2-1 setback against Serie A leaders Juventus last weekend, Palacio netted goals in the 43rd and 93rd minutes to make sure his side claimed all three vital points and snapped a two-match winless run in league play.
The visitors had the better of the play early on with their first good chance coming 14 minutes in when Palacio was put through with a nice ball over the top of the Sampdoria defense, but he pushed his strike just wide of the left post.
Sampdoria had a few chances in the first half but was unable to find the net before Palacio bagged his first of the match two minutes before the break.
Alvaro Pereria collected a loose ball along the left flank and lofted a left- footed cross into the box for an unmarked Palacio, who got his head to the ball, directing it past Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
The hosts' best chance of the second half came in the 63rd minute as Pedro Mba Obiang let a shot go from outside the Inter penalty area, but goalkeeper Samir Handanovic got down quickly and make the save.
Palacio put the nail in the coffin in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when he worked his way through several Sampdoria defenders, rounded Romero, who came off his line, and slotted the ball home to secure the victory.
Inter moves into fifth place in Serie A with 50 points from 30 matches, while the loss for Sampdoria snaps a four-match home winning streak and leaves the club firmly entrenched in 13th place with 36 points.
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