A dramatic last-minute penalty cost Inter Milan a victorious start to their Serie A title defence as the champions had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Genoa, while AC Milan turned a 2-0 deficit to earn a last-minute 2-2 draw against Torino.

Former Milan striker Junior Messias earned a point for Genoa in the fifth minute of added time by converting the equaliser from his own saved penalty. The penalty was awarded after Inter defender Yann Bisseck was penalised for a clumsy handball while attempting to head the ball away.

Bisseck’s mistake cost Inter a victory that had seemed assured by goals from Marcus Thuram in each half after Alessandro Vogliacco had given hosts Genoa a surprise lead.

“We are disappointed because the boys showed a very professional performance,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.

“We played very well in the first half and showed a lot of potential, but then conceded an unfortunate goal… When you concede two goals like we did tonight, it becomes difficult to win games.”

“When a team like ours takes the lead, as we did, we cannot concede a goal, especially not a goal like that.”

French striker Thuram thought he had won the game for Inter when he skilfully chipped home a pass from Davide Frattesi with six minutes left. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but was upheld after a VAR review.

Thuram was Inter’s most dangerous player, forcing two super saves from Pierluigi Gollini and winning a penalty in the 34th minute, which was disallowed after a check during his collision with Milan Badelj.

The draw was a great result for Genoa not only because they were playing against the reigning champions, but also because Alberto Gilardino’s team lost key players in the transfer window and was hit by a wave of injuries.

Genoa sold last season’s attacking stars Mateo Retegui and Albert Gudmundsson and were without five players on Saturday, meaning Messias had to play in attack rather than in his preferred wing position.

“The boys were really great tonight. Given all the difficulties we had, we knew how tough it was going to be, but they responded brilliantly,” said Gilardino.

– Okafor saves Milan –

Noah Okafor was the hero at San Siro as his stunning volley deep into stoppage time gave Milan a point that had seemed impossible before newcomer Alvaro Morata brought the hosts back into the game in the 89th minute.

Paulo Fonseca’s official debut as Milan coach was made more difficult by Malick Thiaw somehow putting the ball just over his own goal line in the 30th minute, when it would have looked easier to clear it.

And after a period of largely uninspired Milan pressure, Duvan Zapata looked to have secured the points for Torino when he headed in a superb Valentino Lazaro cross from close range.

But substitute Morata scored on his debut, setting up a spectacular finish that ended with Okafor smashing home a cross from fellow substitute Yunus Musah in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

It was an eventful evening for Spanish striker Morata, who also had a goal disallowed for offside and a penalty was awarded just before Zapata’s goal, but was then disallowed.

An angry Morata sharply criticized his teammates’ performances in an interview with DAZN and said that Milan played without conviction until it was almost too late.

“We have to take the positives from the game. We got a point when it looked like we weren’t going to get anything, but we have to have that courage from the first minute,” said Morata.

“We have to improve mentally and understand that you have to try hard, work hard and be stronger as a team to win titles.”

Newly promoted Parma played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, with both teams scoring goals thanks to excellent strikes from Dennis Man and Cristiano Biraghi, while Empoli played out a 0-0 draw with Monza.

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