Sampdoria moved to the top of Serie A after shocking defending champions Inter Milan with their fifth win in six games.
A goal from Giampaolo Pazzini in the 72nd minute was enough to decide a very tight, yet entertaining encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, inflicting Inter's first defeat of the season.
Both sides had made a positive start to the season, with Inter dropping only two points so far and Samp seeing their four-game winning streak ended by Fiorentina! in midweek.
The prize for the winner was top spot in Serie A for at least 24 hours and the game was understandably tense.
Although there were very few chances in the first half, the quality on offer was very high.
In fact, both sides were cancelling each other out, with two of the league's strongest attacks - and both coaches sprang surprises in their starting XIs by including three forwards - tamed by the meanest of defences.
The first chance did not arrive until the 22nd minute when Samp goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi showed indecision in allowing Diego Milito to reach a long ball on the goal-line.
The former Genoa striker's pull-back was met by Esteban Cambiasso and Castellazzi redeemed himself by saving the Argentinian's shot.
Angelo Palombo had the home side's first chance in the 28th minute but he failed to make good enough contact as the ball landed invitingly for a volley 10 yards from goal.
To end the half, Reto Ziegle! r sent in a 25-yard shot that curled at the last minute to tes! t Julio Cesar, who preferred to punch the ball clear rather than attempt to catch it.
Inter made a brighter start to the second half, with Milito dragging his shot across the face of goal from a difficult angle.
Mario Balotelli's 56th-minute shot took a deflection and Castellazzi was only able to parry the ball towards Milito, but he slipped on a very difficult pitch as he tried to convert the rebound.
Samp had a strong claim for a penalty turned down by referee Nicola Rizzoli when David Santon appeared to push the young midfielder to the floor as he looked to cut into the penalty area.
The game was finally starting to open up, with Samuel Eto'o volleying just wide at one end before Pazzini put the home side ahead at the other.
He was given a simple tap-in from seven yards out as the Inter defence fell asleep when Daniele Mannini sent in a low cross from the right.
The Nerazzurri laid siege to the Samp goal in search of an equaliser in the f! inal 10 minutes and they thought they had found it in the 84th minute when Ricardo Quaresma's shot deflected off Lucio into the back of the goal, but the Brazilian defender was in an offside position.
Castellazzi then denied Lucio what would have been a perfectly valid goal in stoppage time, pushing his direct free-kick wide of the post to secure all three points for the Blucerchiati.
