Debutant Cagliari coach Davide Ballardini claimed referees gave the benefit of the doubt to the bigger clubs after television replays showed Motta's goal was offside.
Teenager Philippe Coutinho, called into the team at the last minute after playmaker Wesley Sneijder was injured in the warm-up, scored Inter's second before Joaquin Larrivey pulled one back for the visitors.
Saturday's other games produced goalless stalemates as AC Milan's run of five successive wins ended at Fiorentina and a negative, time-wasting Lazio held out for a point at Napoli.
Lazio's match was a complete contrast to the corresponding fixture last season when Napoli came from two goals behind to win 4-3 with an Edinson Cavani hat-trick.
In complete contrast to the fortune enjoyed by Inter, the Dutchman's effort was disallowed for offside when replays suggested the goal should have stood.
Claudio Ranieri's Inter got their lucky break in the 54th minute when Ricardo Alvarez's free-kick was flicked by Giampaolo Pazzini to Motta, who scored from close range.
"Certain situations create doubt and in case of doubt the referee's decision goes in favour of the strongest," said Balladini, Calgiari's third coach this season.
"It's very difficult to get an offside decision in your favour at San Siro."
"They've told me it was offside, but it's our turn to enjoy some luck for a change," he said.
Inter twice hit the bar in the first half when Giampaolo Pazzini's drive was tipped onto the woodwork by Michael Agazzi who did the same to a Mauro Zarate free-kick shortly afterwards.
