Inter Milan push aside charging Juve

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Inter Milan moved a step closer to retaining their Serie A title despite conceding a last-minute goal in their draw with Juventus.


Mario Balotelli put Jose Mourinho's side ahead after 64 minutes and, although Zdenek Grygera levelled in the 90th minute, the result leaves them 10 points ahead at the top of the table.


Juve actually had the better of the play and could justifiably claim they deserved all three points but Tiago's red card for two bad challenges meant the hosts had to play for the final 15 minutes with 10 men.


Marco Marchionni had an early shot from just outside the area for Juve but Cristian Chivu deflected the ball to send it out although no corner was given.


Balotelli almost put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes when he found himself one on one with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.


Buffon managed to get something on Balotelli's shot to slow the ball down before Tiago cleared off the line.


Grygera then misdirected his header when well positioned from a corner before Juventus created a great opportunity to go ahead.


Pavel Nedved found Vincenzo Iaquinta in a good position but the ball was cleared for a corner as Juventus maintained the pressure.


Alessandro Del Piero then played in Grygera whose shot hit a defender before Del Piero crossed to Marchionni, who hit a right-footed shot but Julio Cesar made a great save.


At the other end, Zlatan Ibrahimovic played in Luis Figo who dribbled into the penalty area but, 10 yards from goal, Buffon legally took both ball and man and managed to avert the danger.


Inter then had a good header saved from Ibrahimovic before they took the lead after a quick break from a Juventus corner.


Ibrahimovic was quickly played in and he sped down the left side before passing to Sulley Muntari as the Nerazzurri found themselves three on two.


Muntari in turn made a perfect pass to Balotelli who calmly beat Buffon from 10 yards.


The next chance fell to Juve when Marchionni, fed by Iaquinta, entered the area but the angle was too acute and the shot was easily stopped by Julio Cesar.


Tiago was then sent off following bad challenges on Muntari and Balotelli and the hosts had to play the final quarter of an hour with 10 men.


It was all Inter in the closing stages and Dejan Stankovic forced a great save from Buffon from just outside the area with the Juventus keeper also repelling a snapshot from Julio Cruz.


However, Juve equalized in stoppage time when Sebastian Giovinco sent a corner to Grygera who headed past Julio Cesar from seven yards.


A further four minutes of added time were played but neither side could force the winner.