Football News : Inter slump to defeat against Novara

Novara's Riccardo Meggiorin (L) celebrates with Takayuki Morimoto after scoring the opening goal in their 3-1 win over Inter MIlan

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Two late goals from Marco Rigoni sink Inter to heap pressure on coach Gasperini


• Riccardo Meggiorini opens scoring for newly-promoted Novara in first half


• Sevilla maintain unbeaten start to La Liga season; Real Sociedad beat Granada 1-0

(CNN) -- Inter Milan's dismal start to the new Serie A season continued on Tuesday night as they were soundly beaten 3-1 by newly-promoted Novara at the Stadio Silvio Piola.

The home side opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Riccardo Meggiorini drilled a low shot past Julio Cesar, to take a deserved halftime lead.

Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini brought on Joel Obi and Giampaolo Pazzini at half time (replacing teenage Dutch striker Luc Castaignos and newly-signed Diego Forlan) but it did little to alter Inter's fortunes as they pushed in vain for a second-half equalizer.

And when Andrea Rannochia was sent off for a challenge on striker Takayuki Morimoto in the penalty area, their latest humiliation was almost complete.

Midfielder Marco Rigoni stepped up to convert the penalty kick in the 86th minute to all but seal the win for Novara.

Argentina's Esteban Cambiasso pulled one back three minutes later giving hope to Inter's traveling fans that their team might salvage a draw.

But Rigoni capped a famous night for Novara with his second goal in injury-time to heap further pressure on the embattled Gasperini.

"We played really badly. But I believe in what I am doing, which has given me a lot of happiness before this, it is a difficult period we are going through, but I must come out of this stronger and more resolute," Gasperini said after the match, AFP reported.

"We have to be a bit more humble, when we tried to go on the offensive we found ourselves in trouble. We have succeeded in playing like that in other matches. But this evening it is clear, it did not work, and that goes beyond just tactics," he added, AFP reported.

Inter have managed just one point from their first three Serie A games this term and currently lie in 17th place in the table. Novara, meanwhile, move up to fifth.

Over in Spain, Sevilla maintained their unbeaten start to the La Liga season with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna, while Real Sociedad beat Granada 1-0 courtesy of a Daniel Estrada strike in the 63rd minute.