AC Milan off to good start with 3-1 win

AC Milan clinched a 3-1 win against Lazio on Sunday as they opened the Serie A season with their former striker Filippo Inzaghi at the helm.

Midfielders Keisuke Honda, Sulley Muntari and Jeremy Menez were on target for the Rossoneri before an own goal from Alex.

At Milan's Giuseppe Meazza stadium, Honda fired through the legs of keeper Etrit Berisha on seven minutes as he connected with a ball that Stephan El Shaarawy played into the box after a break on the left flank.

There were no other telling chances in the first half as Lazio at times stuttered in defence and El Shaarawy, returning to the first team after a season marred by injuries, displayed good form.

Lazio had a brisk start into the second half, but were stunned on 57 minutes as Ghanaian Muntari deflected off Ignazio Abate. They lost hope seven minutes later when French newcomer Menez converted a penalty after being floored.

New Brazilian signing Alex allowed Lazio to pull one back on 67 minutes, tipping the ball past his goalkeeper Diego Lopez, also a newcomer, as he challenged a deflection from Filip Djordjevic.

The visitors pressed with fury in the closing minutes, but only lined up a series of missed chances with Antonio Candreva, Stefano Mauri and Stefan de Vrij.

"I was certain I would see this determination," Inzaghi said. "We used these (two) months to grow and create a good group. Feeling the stadium close to the boys at game end was the greatest satisfaction."

In late action, Napoli found a last-gasp winner from newcomer Jonathan de Guzman to edge Genoa 2-1 after an early lead from Jose Callejon and Mauricio Pinilla's equaliser.

Inter Milan got no goal from the ball possession displayed against Torino and thanked their keeper Samir Handanovic for saving Marcelo Larrondo's spot kick.

New Inter defender Nemanja Vidic was dismissed in injury time for ironically applauding the referee.

Udinese beat promoted Empoli 2-0 through a second-half brace from the 36-year-old Antonio Di Natale, now on 195 goals in the top flight.

In Bergamo, Atalanta and visiting Verona played out a scoreless draw.

Cesena edged Parma 1-0, newcomers Sassuolo drew 1-1 with Cagliari, and 10-man Sampdoria salvaged a 1-1 draw against Palermo, the third promoted side, despite the first-half dismissal of Vasco Regini. On Saturday, champions Juventus won 1-0 at Chievo and Roma beat Fiorentina 2-0.