Bari hold Inter again to boost Milan hopes

Bari breathed new life into the Serie A title race by holding champions Inter Milan to a draw for the second time this season after a 2-2 stalemate that included three penalties.

Inter, who were 2-0 down at one stage, now lead city rivals AC Milan by nine points, but the Rossonero have two games in hand with the derby to come next weekend.

But while Inter coach Jose Mourinho may feel this was two points dropped, as was the case when Inter hosted the southerners on the opening day of the season, this result was testament to Inter’s powers of recovery.

Two Paulo Baretto penalties looked to have given Bari victory but Macedonia striker Goran Pandev pulled a goal back before Argentine strike partner Diego Milito’s penalty earned the champions a share of the spoils.

Few clear-cut chances were created in the first half but Bari clearly had the better of things with Honduran winger Edgar Alvarez’s pace causing considerable problems for makeshift left-back Ivan Cordoba.

And it was Alvarez who had the first clear sight of goal on 28 minutes as Massimo Donati’s pass found a gap between Cordoba and centre-back Lucio with the Honduran racing on to the ball but with only Julio Cesar to beat he fired against the goalkeeper’s legs.

Four minutes later Hungarian Vladimir Koman slipped the ball wide to overlapping left-back Alessandro Parisi and his fierce drive was beaten away by Julio Cesar.

Inter seemed to be coming back into the match early in the second period as Wesley Sneijder struck a powerful free-kick from distance wide out on the left only for Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet to tip the ball around the post.

From the resulting corner Milito’s shot was blocked and Cordoba sliced the rebound wide.

But the game changed on two penalties, the first given when Riccardo Meggiorini’s cross from the left hit Walter Samuel’s arm.

Baretto sent Julio Cesar the wrong way to open the scoring on the hour.

And just three minutes later Lucio gave away another penalty after clumsily bundling Parisi over in the box.

Baretto shot to the other corner this time, again sending Julio Cesar the wrong way.

Mourinho’s response was immediate, throwing on winger Ricardo Quaresma and full-back Davide Santon.

Inter were soon level after some shoddy Bari defending.

A Mario Balotelli shot from distance on 69 minutes hit Andrea Masiello and Pandev was quickest to react to the loose ball to slot home.

Five minutes later a ricochet played Pandev in behind the Bari defence and Leonardo Bonucci brought him down with Milito despatching the third spot-kick of the game.

Alvarez had a chance to win the game when played in by Baretto but his first touch was far too heavy and Julio Cesar cleared.

Earlier in the day Cagliari went sixth, just three points off a Champions League position, with a 3-0 defeat of Livorno.