LEAD: Inter Milan leave lower reaches with win over Cagliari

Nov 19, 2011, 19:33 GMT

Rome - Troubled giants Inter Milan beat visiting Cagliari 2-1 Saturday to improve their lowly standing in the Italian Serie A.

Second-half goals from Thiago Motta and Brazilian Coutinho pushed the Nerazzurri, who have a game in hand, in fifth-from-last position with 11 points from 10 games.

Inter pressed and prevailed on ball possession in the first half, but only produced two bar-shaking chances when Giampaolo Pazzini fired from the distance and Argentine Mauro Zarate took a free kick.

New Cagliari coach Davide Ballardini, who last week took over the Sardinia side, kept his men well positioned at the Giuseppe Meazza and complained bitterly when Motta on 54 minutes seemed to be offside as he flicked from close-range after a Pazzini deflection.

No complaint was possible six minutes later when the diminutive Coutinho controlled a low feed and found the lower left corner from the limit of the box.

The guests tried a furious comeback, but only managed to liven up the injury-time phase with a late goal from Argentine substitute Joaquin Larrivey off a cross from Colombian Victor Ibarbo, also a substitute.

Cagliari stayed rooted on 13 points from 11 games, while Inter had bad news from Dutch international Wesley Sneijder, who hurt himself during the game warm-up and was substituted by Coutinho.

It appears unlikely that the Dutch midfielder will be available for Champions League duty in mid-week.

In later action, champions AC Milan visit Fiorentina and Napoli take on joint-leaders Lazio. Udinese are level with Lazio on 21 points when they visit Parma on Sunday.

Milan, who trail on 20 points, and Napoli, with a game in hand in the Serie A, also play in the elite continental tournament in mid-week.