Livorno hit back for a useful 2-2 draw against Inter on Monday evening at the Stadio Armando Picchi.
Hernanes and Rodrigo Palacio scored to give the Biscione a two-goal advantage at half-time before Paulinho and Innocent Emeghara netted as the hosts fought back to win a point.
Inter started slowly against a Livorno side happy to try to defend and counterattack.
The Nerazzurri managed to fashion half a chance with a well-worked short corner routine in the second minute but the shot was sliced wide by an off-balance Hernanes.
Samir Handanovic made his first save on the 15th minute after an over-hit Emerson crossed free-kick from a wide position forced the Slovenian goalkeeper to back-pedal and claw the ball away.
Hernanes came close in the 27th minute with a curling effort from outside the box but his dangerous looking strike fizzed just passed the far post.
A good chance came for the Biscione after a Hernanes cross was met by the head of Danilo D’Ambrosio but he could not beat the onrushing Francesco Bardi who spread himself well.
Hernanes opened the scoring for Inter in the 37th minute after Mauro Icardi managed to completely scuff his attempted spinning volley on the six yard box, only to unwittingly set up the Brazilian who arrived late to smash the ball passed Bardi from close-range.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic then forced a smart save from Bardi with a powerful long-range effort.
Palacio doubled Inter’s lead in added time at the end of the half after being left completely unmarked to volley the ball back across the goalkeeper from Jonathan’s cross.
Ricky Alvarez slipped in Palacio with a neat through ball almost straight after the restart but his low drive from a narrow angle was easy enough for Bardi to save with his feet.
Paulinho and Belfodil linked up nicely for Livorno on the counterattack in the 53rd minute and Paulinho then managed to halve the deficit from the subsequent corner after he peeled away to smash in a bobbling cross first-time via the underside of the bar.
Livorno had another promising looking counterattack on the hour mark but substitute Alfred Duncan was unable to capitalise and went down with a half-hearted penalty appeal after losing possession.
A great chance came for Rolando in the 71st minute but the Inter defender failed to connect properly with his free header after getting onto the end of a free kick.
The home fans demanded penalty in the 75 minute after Marco Benassi was upended by Juan Jesus but the merit of the claim is debatable.
Inter seemed certain to scored again in the 77th minute but some desperate defending and goalkeeping managed to keep Icardi and substitute Fredy Guarin out.
Substitute Emeghara equalised in the 85th minute after running onto a sloppy back pass from Guarin and to slot passed Handanovic whilst holding off Walter Samuel.
Inter turned on the pressure in the stoppage time but couldn’t find away through the mass of bodies in Amaranto.
