Internazionale 1 - 1 AS Roma

Internazionale 1-1 AS Roma

Updated: November 8, 2009, 9:56 PM UK

Inter Milan were held to a draw by a determined Roma at the San Siro tonight, but still moved five points clear at the top of Serie A.

Mirko Vucinic put Roma ahead in the 13th minute, but Samuel Eto'o earned Inter a point early in the second half.

Both sides looked tired after their midweek commitments in Europe and they both appeared happy to settle for a draw which will please both Juventus and AC Milan, who have carved two points off Inter's advantage at the top of the table this weekend.

Vucinic had a great chance to give Roma a flying start when he was sent through with just Julio Cesar to beat after only two minutes, but Lucio scampered back to take the ball off his toes after he had just skipped past the Inter goalkeeper and was ready to stroke the ball into the empty net.

There was no stopping his 13th-minute goal, though.

He leapt to meet Marco Motta's lofted ball into the penalty area and sent a looping header just inside Julio Cesar's post as the Brazilian goalkeeper stood and watched.

The goal continued a tradition which has lasted for four years and has seen Roma always score first in their meetings with Inter at the San Siro.

But going ahead has not necessarily guaranteed victory for the Giallorossi, at least not since Mourinho took charge of Inter.

The Portuguese coach had not lost any of his last 149 home league and domestic cup games spread between Porto, Chelsea and Inter, but his side was left with a bit of work to do to make that 150.

They accepted the challenge, though, and Maicon was the first to test Roma's stand-in goalkeeper Julio Sergio with a curling shot which was difficult to grasp.

Diego Milito then found his way into the penalty area, but Julio Sergio denied him in a one-on-one situation in the 17th minute.

Roma risked giving their lead away when Marco Andreolli sent a weak header back to his goalkeeper who had to punch the ball away from the onrushing Dejan Stankovic.

The Giallorossi then lost their captain Daniele De Rossi with a suspected fractured cheekbone while Philippe Mexes had to grit his teeth and play on although he was limping after an earlier clash.

John-Arne Riise sent one of his trademark free-kicks wide of the post as Roma rolled up their sleeves.

And Julio Sergio saved them again, tipping a dipping Sulley Muntari shot over the crossbar just before half time.

Mourinho brought Wesley Sneijder and Mario Balotelli on for Patrick Vieira and Muntari at half time as he made his intentions clear.

And it was not long before they were level with Eto'o scoring in the 48th minute.

Milito could not find the ball which was lying at his own feet, but the clearance by a Roma defender was poor and Thiago Motta was able to thread the ball through to Eto'o, who placed his shot into the far corner of Julio Sergio's goal.

Roma still had chances to win the game with Jeremy Menez's shot parried just inches in front of Vucinic by Julio Cesar in the 63rd minute and Ricardo Faty forcing the Inter goalkeeper into a save 10 minutes from time.

Milito's stoppage-time goal was rightly ruled out for offside as Inter could not summon up the energy to find a winner.