MILAN: Former Inter Milan midfielder Antonio Candreva scored a stunning goal in the final minute to help Salernitana snatch a 1-1 draw against his old club in Serie A on Friday.
Candreva’s strike canceled out Robin Gosens’ early opener for Inter, who have not
won for more than a month — a run of five matches in all competitions.
Inter hit the woodwork twice, while Salernitana also hit the crossbar.
Inter remained a point below third-placed AC Milan, who were held by Empoli to 0-0 at home. Fifth-placed Roma was a point further back in a tight battle for the Champions League qualifying places.
Leaders Napoli won at Lecce 2-1 to move 19 points clear of second-placed Lazio, which hosts Juventus on Saturday. The other six league matches this weekend will all be played on Saturday because of the Easter holiday.
Milan host Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday, the day after Inter play at Benfica.
Inter’s first goal from open play in nearly 500 minutes came when Romelu Lukaku nodded on a Kristjan Asllani ball over the top for Gosens to sweep into the top left corner.
Lukaku should have doubled Inter’s lead on the stroke of halftime with a header from point-blank range which Salernitana goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa saved off the line with his knees.
Ochoa was the busier of the goalkeepers and he did well again early in the second half to fingertip Nicolò Barella’s strike onto the post.
Inter went even closer to doubling their lead from the ensuing corner with an incredible triple chance. First, Lukaku headed off the crossbar, then Ochoa denied Stefan de Vrij on the rebound, and the Inter defender’s followup was blocked by a Salernitana player.
Salernitana equalized in the final minute when what appeared to be a cross from Candreva from the right looped over Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana and into the far top corner.
Candreva made more than 100 appearances for Inter in four seasons.
Milan were held by mid-table Empoli just five days after humiliating the Serie A leader.
Milan thought they scored a last-minute winner but Olivier Giroud headed it in off his arm.
The Rossoneri were awarded a penalty on the hour mark for an apparent handball by Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi but it was revoked on review.
Milan dominated and had 20 shots to Empoli’s one. They also hit the post through Alessandro Florenzi but has now won only one of its past six matches in all competitions.
Own goal
Napoli needed an own goal to help them bounce back from their heaviest league defeat of the season.
Napoli, who were thumped by Milan 4-0 on Sunday, took the lead in the 18th minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo headed in a cross from Kim Min-jae.
Federico Di Francesco leveled seven minutes into the second half, firing home the rebound after Assan Ceesay’s header came off the crossbar. It was Lecce’s first goal in six matches.
However, it didn’t prevent it from falling to a sixth straight defeat as Lecce defender Antonino Gallo tried to chest a cross back to his goalkeeper but it went in.
