Inter and Napoli played out a stunning finish to draw 2-2 at the San Siro in Serie A on Sunday evening.
A poor game came to life with Jose Callejon’s late strike before substitute Fredy Guarin levelled affairs moments later as the game kicked into life in the dying stages. Callejon’s stunning volley looked to have stolen victory on the cusp of full time, only for Hernanes head home in stoppage time.
The home side began the game with the higher tempo, but rarely threatened Rafael Cabral in goal before Joel Obi forced a routine save from the Napoli keeper.
Mauro Icardi was denied by a last ditch tackle from Raul Albiol after having been played in by Hernanes as the Nerazzurri continued to press the visitors’ back line and just a minute later Icardi’s header drifted inches wide of the far post.
Both sides struggled to create any clear cut chances and under-fire Inter head coach Walter Mazzarri could not hide his frustration as Hernanes shot wildly from distance as the Nerazzuri continually failed to break down the Partenopei defence.
Hernanes was the driving force behind Inter and shortly before half-time his low drive beat Partenopei keeper Rafael only to see his shot from the edge of the area strike the outside of the near post and bounce clear of danger.
The visitors seemed happy to allow Inter to maintain possession and posed no threat whatsoever to Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal throughout a first half lacking in any real quality.
After the break the first clear chance fell to Napoli and Insigne, however despite being given the freedom of the Inter penalty area, the striker could only scuff his shot against the post.
Callejon’s bouncing low effort from outside the box managed to test Handanovic for the first time but the Slovenian proved equal to the effort as the game entered the final half an hour.
The deadlock was finally broken with just 11 minutes left to play, and it was surprisingly the visitors who took the lead through Callejon’s low drive.
The lead hardly lasted three minutes as substitute Guarin, who had been on the pitch for 70 seconds, was quickest to react following a corner and guided home the ball from six yards out.
In the aftermath of the goal, Walter Mazzarri was sent to the stands by the referee for what he considered a excessive celebration on the field of play.
With seconds of normal time to play Callejon volleyed the Partenopei into the lead with a stunning effort on the angle and looked to have secured a huge win against Inter but they would be level in injury time.
Hernanes, the driving force behind Inter, rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Dodo and give under-fire head coach Mazzarri another chance at the club and ensure that the Nerazzurri halt their two match losing streak.
