TURIN - Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi fired home a 77th-minute equaliser to deny arch-rivals Internazionale a vital three points on Sunday night.
A match billed as the biggest in Serie A so far this season seemed to be heading the way of the Serie A leaders when Julio Cruz put them in front four minutes before half-time.
But substitute Camoranesi grabbed a leveller with 13 minutes to go to frustrate the Nerazzurri, whose lead at the top of the standings was cut to two points over the weekend following Fiorentina's 1-0 win at Lazio on Saturday night.
The early stages were tense with neither side willing to commit too many men forward.
The home side were particularly cautious, although Pavel Nedved did break out of the Bianconeri's self-imposed shackles to try his luck with three long-range efforts.
Inter always looked comfortable, though, and appeared to be in control of the game, capable of raising a gear when required.
They did precisely that just before the break as Cruz chested down Cesar's through ball, accelerated away from the home defence and slotted past Gianluigi Buffon.
Inter were in command and began searching for a second.
Cesar's 58th-minute free-kick forced Buffon into a low save and the linesman's flag came to the Italy international's rescue as Esteban Cambiasso's follow-up was ruled out for offside.
Ten minutes later, substitute David Suazo spurned an excellent chance to make it 2-0 although Buffon deserves credit for an excellent point-blank save.
Juve coach Claudio Ranieri brought on striker Vincenzo Iaquinta for the final half hour and Camoranesi followed shortly after as the hosts went all out for an equaliser.
And both made the impact Ranieri required.
Seconds after coming on, Camoranesi ran forward before spreading the play to Iaquinta, whose cross was diverted towards his own goal by Ivan Cordoba, forcing the back-tracking Julio Cesar to punch the ball over the crossbar.
The pair then combined again for the Juve equaliser in the 77th minute.
Rafaelle Palladino crossed from the left, Iaquinta headed the ball back and Camoranesi, from the penalty spot, drilled in a shot which took a deflection off Cristian Chivu on its way into the goal.
It was a goal good enough to earn Juventus a point which, on the balance of play, was the right outcome of a top-of-the-table clash which indicates that this Serie A season will be more competitive than last year.
