Stefan de Vrij strikes in stoppage time as Inter Milan earn derby draw

Stefan de Vrij scored a stoppage-time equaliser as title-chasing Inter Milan rescued a 1-1 draw in a breathless derby against AC Milan on Sunday.

Tijjani Reijnders’ goal on the stroke of half-time had looked like securing Milan’s third victory over their rivals this season and putting a major dent in their hopes of overhauling Serie A leaders Napoli.

Yet after hitting the woodwork three times in a strong second-half showing at the San Siro, Inter finally broke through when De Vrij flicked in from Nicola Zelewski’s knock-down.

The late equaliser denied England full-back Kyle Walker a winning start on his Milan debut, having joined the club on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the season earlier this month.

Walker was given an early test as Inter twice attacked down the left but Nicolo Barella’s shot was easily saved by Mike Maignan and Lautaro Martinez volleyed over.

Milan took time to impose themselves and it was not until the latter stages of the first half they first threatened as Reijnders brought a good save from Yann Sommer despite being forced wide.

Sergio Conceicao’s side took the lead in the 45th minute after Tammy Abraham robbed Hakan Calhanoglu to launch a counter-attack.

Rafael Leao tested Sommer with a shot from the left which the Swiss could only parry and the rebound was smashed into the roof of the net by Reijnders.

Inter started the second half brightly with Martinez testing Maignan but Leao had an effort blocked at the other end by Benjamin Pavard.

Yann Bisseck thought he had equalised when he beat Maignan with a firm header from a Barella corner but the ball rebounded off the post.

Martinez then put the ball in the net from a Denzel Dumfries cut-back but his effort was disallowed for an infringement.

Reijnders spurned a chance to double Milan’s lead when he shot straight at Sommer but Henrikh Mkhitaryan failed to make him pay when he blasted wide moments later.

Inter ramped up the pressure in the closing minutes and Marcus Thuram thumped a volley against the post before Dumfries also hit the woodwork.

Dumfries was denied again in stoppage time, this time by Maignan at close range, but Milan finally cracked when Bisseck’s deep cross was chested down by Zelewski and De Vrij was on hand to clip home.