Inter rally from 2 down as Martinez denies Roma perfect start

Inter arrived for the matchday as the division’s top scorers having already found the net 13 times. Yet defensive concerns resurfaced immediately for Cristian Chivu’s side, who had conceded five goals across their previous two matches and fell behind for the third consecutive game.

Match highlight

Roma broke the deadlock inside six minutes through Manu Kone. Paulo Dybala delivered a ball into the area Nahuel Molina headed it back into a dangerous position and Kone was afforded enough space to finish from close range.

The hosts looked confident. Nearly increased their advantage when Dybala fired narrowly wide from distance. Inter gradually settled into the contest though. Began to threaten as the first half progressed. Yann Bisseck drove powerfully into the penalty area before being denied by Mile Svilar while Martinez narrowly failed to connect with a Federico Dimarco cross.

The Nerazzurri continued to create openings. Curtis Jones produced a pass for Alessandro Bastoni, whose effort from a tight angle struck the post. Those missed chances proved costly before the interval as Roma doubled their lead.

Kone was again in the place at the right time reacting quickly to score from close range after Gianluca Mancini’s involvement in the build-up was checked and cleared by VAR. Roma, who had conceded once in four and a half league games before kick-off looked firmly in control.

However Inter’s response came immediately after the restart. Within seconds of the second half beginning Marcus Thuram supplied a cut-back for Martinez, whose finish took a slight deflection off his shin before finding the net.

A series of substitutions slowed the rhythm. The match remained finely balanced. Roma nearly restored their two-goal lead through Donyell Malen, whose close-range turn and shot were denied by Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez.

With 11 minutes remaining Inter completed their comeback. Thuram’s initial header was superbly saved by Svilar while Martinez’s follow-up header struck the crossbar. Roma failed to clear their lines however. The Argentine forward pounced. Controlling the ball with his thigh Martinez unleashed a powerful volley to make it 2-2.

Inter pressed for a winner but Thuram could only send a final effort wide. Roma were unable to extend their league winning streak to 10 matches though their unbeaten home run now stands at 15 games. Both sides remain level on points near the top of the early Serie A table with Roma, on goal difference.