Inter draw as Eto scores his 1st Inter goal

Inter draw as Eto scores his 1st Inter goal

Inter Milan managed only a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Bari in their opening game of the Serie A campaign.

The defending champions went ahead in the 56th minute when former Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o scored on his Italian league debut from the penalty spot after Diego Milito was brought down inside the area by Leonardo Bonucci.

The visitors, who had enjoyed few chances up to then, hit back with 16 minutes remaining when Vitaly Kutuzov struck an equaliser.

Dropping two points at the San Siro has added to a frustrating start to the season after Inter's Italian Super Cup defeat to Lazio earlier this month.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho opted to play with summer signings Milito and Eto'o in attack.

The hosts dominated the opening minutes and almost broke the deadlock early on with Milito serving Eto'o, whose right-footed shot inside the area was saved by Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet.

At the other end, Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar did well to anticipate Ferdinando Sforzini, who was ready to fire after being fed by Edgar Alvarez.

In the 25th minute, Julio Cesar was forced to dive to his left to save Riccardo Allegretti's curled free-kick.

Shortly after, Milito missed a great chance to put his team ahead with his close-range effort from Patrick Vieira's through ball going off target.

On the half-hour mark, Mourinho made his first substitution with Mario Balotelli replacing Sulley Muntari and Inter looked more dangerous.

The hosts twice had a chance to go in front before the break but Balotelli and then Thiago Motta fired wide.

Bari could have gone into the break with a 1-0 lead but Kutuzov failed to control the ball inside the area with only Julio Cesar left to beat.

Mourinho made his second substitution after the interval with Riccardo Quaresma replacing Vieira.

The hosts continued to control the game but struggled to get past Bari's well-drilled defence.

They were given a helping hand when the referee pointed to the spot after Bonucci clipped Milito's leg inside the area.

Eto'o coolly struck towards the left corner of the goal, sending the goalkeeper the other way.

The 1-0 deficit did not hinder the visitors, who began to show more determination up front.

In the 64th minute, Antonio Langella's effort from Kutuzov's pass went inches wide of the far post.

An unmarked Eto'o should have made it 2-0 soon after but he fired wide from close-range following Milito's perfect cross into the area.

After 74 minutes, Kutuzov punished Inter with his right-footed strike from the heart of the area from Langella's pass to beat Julio Cesar.

Kutuzov almost put the visitors in front shortly after, but his right-footed strike towards the far post was cleared by the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Inter surged forward in search of the winner and had several chances, with headers from Ivan Cordoba and Quaresma going wide.

In the end, Bari should have taken all three points when an unmarked Rivas faced Julio Cesar in a one-on-one situation but his close-range effort went high over the crossbar.