Inter Rally From Two Down to Draw Roma in Serie A Summit Clash
Inter fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Roma, leaving the sides level on 13 Serie A points at the top of the table, with the Giallorossi ahead only on goal difference.
Inter recover after Kone puts Roma in control
The meeting of the league’s only previously perfect teams began with a minute of silence for former Inter great Sandro Mazzola, who has died aged 83.
Roma then seized control, exposing Inter’s familiar early frailty. The Nerazzurri have now fallen 2-0 behind in four straight matches across Serie A and the Champions League, although they had won two of the previous three after going two down.
- Manu Kone opened the scoring after Nahuel Molina headed Paulo Dybala’s delivery back into the penalty area. Kone allowed the ball to drop before driving a first-time shot through Manuel Akanji’s legs from 10 yards.
- Dybala dictated much of Roma’s first-half play and went close with a shot from distance.
- Inter’s main response before the break came from Yann Bisseck, whose effort was saved by Mile Svilar.
- Kone struck again in the 37th minute, turning in at the far post after Gianluca Mancini had flicked on another Dybala cross.
The assistant referee initially ruled out Kone’s second for offside, but VAR established that the France international was behind the ball when Mancini made contact. The goal was awarded.
Martinez double changes the match
Inter needed barely a minute of the second half to cut the deficit. Marcus Thuram intercepted a loose Bryan Cristante pass, broke quickly down the left and rolled the ball back for Martinez, who finished first time from 12 yards.
The champions took over after that goal. Thuram sent a back-heel narrowly wide, while Roma still carried a threat in transition. Donyell Malen, arriving with six goals from four games, saw Josep Martinez block a close-range attempt with his face during a scramble after a corner.
Svilar repeatedly delayed Inter’s comeback, including a diving save from Andy Diouf, but Roma could not hold out. In the 79th minute, Thuram’s header was stopped by Svilar and Martinez’s next header hit the underside of the crossbar. Bisseck returned the ball into the danger area, allowing Martinez to bring it down on his thigh before hammering in a seven-yard volley for 2-2.
What happens next
Both teams chased a late winner, but Inter created the clearest final opening. Petar Sucic brought down Nicolo Barella’s long pass and fed Thuram, whose attempted chip with Svilar off his line went narrowly wide of the open net.
- Roma remain first on 13 points on goal difference.
- Inter are also on 13 points after the draw.
- Following the international break, Roma travel to Como on October 11.
- Inter return a day earlier, hosting Parma at San Siro on October 10.
