Inter, who are seeking to win a fourth consecutive title, are on top of the table with 60 points but their lead over second-placed was reduced to seven points.

Roma surprisingly went to the locker room two-up, thanks to two goals from Daniele De Rossi and John Arne Riise.

De Rossi opened the scoring midway through the first half when he rose above Javier Zanetti to head home Marco Motta's cross.

Norwegian winger Riise further stunned the home crowd six minutes later.

He capitalized on some sloppy defending from Maicon to control a long ball near the byline before shooting through the legs of keeper Julio Cesar, who should have done better to block the ball.

Mario Balotelli, who is always criticized for his undisciplined attitudes, pulled one back on 50 minutes when his delicate shot from inside the area went past Roma guardian Doni.

Matteo Brighi restored Roma's two-goal advantage seven minutes later with an angled drive to finish off a neatly-worked counter attack.

Balotelli once again narrowed the gap with a 63rd-minute penalty after being brought down by Philippe Mexes inside the area.

Argentinean striker Crespo, who replaced Dejan Stankovic in the 77th minute, secured a share of spoils two minutes after his introduction.

He met Luis Figo's in-swinging cross with a superb header that went in off inside the upright.

Watch the match's goals