Genoa have defeated Inter Milan 3-2 in Serie A to damage their opponents' hopes of European qualification.

After a frenetic first half, Juraj Kucka struck with two minutes of time remaining to ensure that Genoa would finish the season above Inter.

Inter had a chance to open the scoring on eight minutes when Marcelo Brozovic headed past the right post from Mateo Kovacic's cross.

Just a minute later, Maxime Lestienne tested Samir Handanovic with a header towards the top corner, but the Serbian goalkeeper was able to keep the game scoreless.

Mauro Icardi broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, placing the ball into the net after Hernanes's cross from the left byline fell kindly to him.

Leonardo Pavoletti equalised in style just four minutes later, though, curling the ball into the net from 25 yards to score in his fourth successive match.

It was Rodrigo Palacio's turn to get on the scoresheet on the half-hour mark. He beat the offside trap and placed the ball into the bottom-left corner to net against his former club.

Pavoletti nearly levelled again with Genoa's next attack. His acrobatic effort from 15 yards left Handanovic helpless, but the ball rebounded agonizingly off the crossbar.

Lestienne, who only made the starting lineup due to a late change, was gifted a goal in the 41st minute. Handanovic sliced the ball into the path of Lestienne, who rolled the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Andrea Bertolacci tried his luck from long range, but his shot was parried behind by Handanovic and Nicolas BUrdisso then headed wide of the target with 19 minutes remaining.

Inter had the best chances to go ahead and struck the woodwork twice in two minutes.

In the 74th minute, a Hernanes shot from eight yards struck the post, before Brozovic hit the crossbar moments later.

Genoa grabbed a dramatic winner two minutes from time as Slovakian international Kucka headed into the net from a free kick.