Inter Slip Up Again

Internazionale missed the chance to claim their third consecutive Serie A title for the second weekend in succession after they were twice pegged back to draw 2-2 with Siena.

Roberto Mancini's side will now take just a one-point lead into the final day of the season after their nearest rivals Roma claimed a 2-1 win at home to Atalanta.

An expectant sell-out crowd saw Inter claim an 11th-minute lead when Patrick Vieira powerfully headed home from a Mario Balotelli corner.

Siena pulled a goal back through Massimo Maccarone on the half-hour mark before Balotelli restored his side's lead on the stroke of half-time.

Inter controlled proceedings in the second half but were stunned by Houssine Kharja's long-range strike.

And the home fans' feelings of anxiety were not helped when Marco Materazzi won a dubious penalty 10 minutes from time, only to see his spot kick saved by Alex Manninger.

The Nerazzurri now must win at Parma on the final day of the season to claim the Serie A title, while Roma travel to relegation-threatened Catania.

Inter showed no early signs of the jitters that have undermined their title push in recent weeks - they had managed just two points from their past three games.

A well-worked move in the opening minute afforded Julio Cruz enough time to pick his spot from the edge of the area, but he shot straight at Manninger.

Moments later Vieira scrambled a low shot past the left-hand post before Materazzi headed against the crossbar from a Balotelli corner as Inter got closer to the target.

The breakthrough finally came in the 11th minute and owed much to Balotelli's dead-ball accuracy.

The 17-year-old midfielder gave an indication of his rising talent to perfectly pick out Vieira from a corner and the France international, having stolen a mark on the static defence, headed home from close range.

The Siena defence then had to stand firm to deny a Cruz after Balotelli's free-kick caused further mayhem in their area.

The home side may have enjoyed all the running in the opening half hour, but it took just a moment of invention from Siena's Moroccan midfielder Kharja to peg back their advantage.

Kharja won the ball back from an Inter throw and played a defence-splitting ball to Maccarone, who fired his angled shot under the body of goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

If the Brazilian goalkeeper was at fault for the equaliser he made up for his blunder with a fine reflex save at the feet of Andrea Rossi to deny Siena an unlikely lead five minutes before half-time.

Moments later Inter took the lead when Vieira turned provider for Balotelli to score with his head.

Vieira nodded on a long Maicon throw from the edge of the six-yard box, which flew across the face of goal and into the path of an unmarked Balotelli who had the simplest of tasks to score.

The half-time whistle blew soon after to herald celebratory scenes amongst the Inter fans who clearly felt their side would at the least hold on to their interval lead and claim a 16th scudetto.

Indeed, they almost built on their advantage a minute after the break when Cruz's footwork proved too quick for the defence, but with just the keeper to beat he shot into the side netting.

And Inter were again made to pay for not taking their chances when Kharja equalised after 70 minutes, the midfielder placing his low shot into the far corner from 25 yards.

The swagger that had marked Inter's play was replaced by anxiety as they desperately went in search of a winner that would claim the title.

Cruz continued to provide their most likely avenue to goal but he shot wide when well placed before another attempt was blocked by Materazzi, who was in an offside position.

However, Inter were gifted a chance to claim the win when Materazzi won a debatable penalty after Christian Rigano was penalised for wrestling the defender to the ground, replays suggesting the decision might have gone the other way.

Materazzi stepped up to take the 79th minute spot kick, but his shot was expertly saved at full-length by Manninger to deny Inter and set up an enthralling last day.(www.sportinglife.com)