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Juventus fight back to claim draw at San Siro

Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi, foreground, and Juventus forward Vincenzo Iaquinta challenge for the ball during their Italian Cup match at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Wednesday. PHOTO: AP

Juventus produced a stirring late fightback to snatch a 2-2 draw against Inter Milan at the San Siro in the Italian Cup quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.

Inter had looked like they were cruising to victory despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for most of the match as they led 2-0 with 11 minutes left to play.

That would have been an amazing result after defender Nicolas Burdisso was sent-off on just eight minutes for a horror challenge on Alessandro Del Piero.

But goals from Del Piero and Jean-Alain Boumsong salvaged a draw for the visitors and nicely sets up next week's second leg in Turin.

Even with a much changed lineup, and a man down for most of the match, Inter still opened up a two-goal lead.

Argentina forward Julio Cruz, enjoying his best season yet at Inter, scored the opener on 54 minutes, heading home a cross from Portuguese youngster Vitor Pele.

What made that goal even the more remarkable was that Inter were actually playing with nine men at the time as Santiago Solari was off the field receiving treatment to his arm.

Inter then went further ahead 20 minutes later as Cruz nipped in front of center-back Boumsong to beat Emanuele Belardi at his near post for 2-0.

But just as it looked as if the runaway league leaders would cruise to victory, Juventus hit back.

Del Piero gave them hope on 79 minutes, rifling home a stunning left-foot volley from French striker David Trezeguet's lay-off.

And five minutes from full-time Boumsong headed home a corner from Raffaele Palladino off the underside of the bar.

In other matches Roma also overcame the early loss of a player to earn a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria.

French defender Philippe Mexes was given his marching orders for two yellow cards in the first half.

Reto Ziegler gave Sampdoria the lead but Macedonia forward Mirko Vucinic scored a brilliant solo effort to snatch a draw for the visitors, who must start as favorites in next week's second leg in Rome.

Meanwhile, Udinese overcame a 2-1 half-time deficit to beat Sicilians Catania 3-2 at home.
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