A second-half goal by midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi earned Empoli a surprise 1-0 win over 10-man Inter Milan in the Serie A on Monday, ending Simone Inzaghi side’s seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Empoli, whose previous victory against the Nerazzurri dates back to April 2006, moved up to the ninth place on 25 points from 19 games. Inter remain third on 37 points, one point behind second-placed Milan.

“In the first half hour we had courage and zero fear,” Empoli coach Paolo Zanetti told DAZN. “Winning at the San Siro is a dream and my players managed to make it come true.”

Inter, who hammered rivals AC Milan 3-0 to win the Italian Supercup on Wednesday, were left with 10 men when captain Milan Skriniar was sent off five minutes before the interval. He was shown a second yellow card after his boot reached Francesco Caputo’s neck.

Empoli forward Nicolo Cambiaghi was close to causing an early surprise at the San Siro when he received a lofted pass on the edge of Inter’s box and struck from close range but was denied by keeper Andre Onana.

The visitors squandered another chance five minutes later when striker Caputo’s strike went just wide of the left post.