Unrelenting Eto’o on target to salvage home draw in Serie A

ROME - Serie A top scorer Samuel Eto’o Saturday levelled for champions Inter Milan to salvage a 1-1 home draw against promoted Brescia.

The Cameroon striker scored his eighth goal in 10 games after being floored in the area as he again displayed the impressive form that has also made him the Champions League top scorer on seven goals.

The Euro champs were reeling from a 3-1 defeat suffered at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League and risk now to slip seven points from the top, should Serie A leaders Lazio win their city derby against Roma Sunday.

On the slippery pitch of the Giuseppe Meazza, Michele Arcari made his first save for Brescia on four minutes to deflect a nasty free kick from Wesley Sneijder and three minutes later blocked a central shot from Eto’o.

Inter forwards Coutinho, Goran Pandev and the returning Diego Milito lacked precision in their efforts as Brescia struggled in defence, but displayed good ball control in midfield.

The gigantic Andrea Caracciolo fired a feeble shot from the distance before stunning Luca Castellazzi on 14 minutes with a low close-range flick.

The striker displayed good speed despite his 1.94-metre height and some luck as a rebound allowed him to have the better of Walter Samuel to beat Castellazzi by the far post.

A fast but central drive from young Brazilian Coutinho on 19 minutes was Arcari’s last feat before the break as the European champions seemed unable to display their usual speed and lost Brazil defender Douglas Maicon to a muscular injury.

Nigerian Joel Obi came on for Sneijder after the break and had a shot deflected before Eto’o converted on 72 minutes to prevent his side’s second defeat.

Milito had a shot saved in injury time and botched a last inviting chance when three Brescia defenders stuttered on a clearance.

In earlier action, Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio and Henry Gimenez scored late goals to secure their side’s 2-0 win against newcomers Lecce.

Di Vaio, 34, also provided an assist for his Uruguayan team-mate after bringing his tally to six goals to draw level with Napoli’s Uruguayan Edinson Cavani.