Eto'o earns Inter draw, Milan go third

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - Samuel Eto'o earned Serie A leaders Inter Milan a 1-1 draw with AS Roma at the San Siro on Sunday, while their city rivals AC Milan climbed to third with a 2-1 win at troubled Lazio.

The Cameroon forward controlled a Thiago Motta pass, spun around and drove home a diagonal strike just after the break to cancel out Mirko Vucinic's first-half goal.

The champions now have 29 points from 12 games, five more than second-placed Juventus, who won 5-2 at Atalanta on Saturday. Inter started the weekend with a seven-point lead.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho had said former title challengers Roma were dangerous despite being in the lower half of the table and missing injured players such as captain Francesco Totti.

He was proved right in the 13th minute when Montenegro striker Vucinic put the visitors in front with a looping header to make amends after his dithering had allowed Inter's defence to recover when he was clean through soon after kickoff.

Inter had keeper Julio Cesar to thank for keeping them on level terms after Eto'o's goal when he produced a fine save to repel a powerful Jeremy Menez shot after the hour mark.

Milan are two points behind Juve after their centre back Thiago Silva scored for both sides in a victory at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

The Brazilian nodded in an Andrea Pirlo free kick from the left to put Milan ahead in the 22nd minute with his maiden Serie A goal.