Valencia force Inter draw
Villa was on target for the Spanish side
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Wednesday, 21, Feb 2007 11:12
Valencia will hope to make home advantage pay when they meet Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League clash after securing a 2-2 draw at the San Siro.
Inter took the lead through Argentinean Esteban Cambiasso - who headed in from short range - after Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares had made a number of excellent saves following a free-kick.
It was a full reward for what had been some determined attacking play from the home side throughout the first half.
However, Valencia striker David Villa gave a warning of what was to come just before the break when his shot fizzed wide of the Inter goal.
Villa levelled things just after the hour-mark with a free-kick from 30 yards out. He curled it round the wall and inside Julio Cesar's upright to level the scores.
The home side were soon in front again but through an unlikely source. Right-back Sisenado Maicon ran on to Julio Cruz's knockdown and finished with aplomb.
The Spaniards levelled the tie three minutes from time when Inter failed to clear a corner and David Silva volleyed home from the edge of the area.
Elsewhere Roma drew 0-0 with Lyon in a game of few chances. Perhaps the most notable statistic of the night was the 11 yellow cards brandished by English official Mike Riley.
Francesco Totti went closest for the home side with a pair of free-kicks but Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet dealt with them well.
Juninho Pernambucano went close with a setpiece of his own but Lyon will hope that home advantage will see them through in the second leg.