Candreva's late equalizer stuns Inter Milan

AC Milan's Alexis Saelemaekers (C) vies with Empoli's Razvan Marin (L) and Sebastiano Luperto during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan's long-awaited victory was ruined by Antonio Candreva as the ex-Inter player's stunner in the dying minutes helped Salernitana draw the Nerazzurri 1-1 in Serie A on Friday.

Inter conceded three consecutive league defeats before Friday's game and were winless in their previous five fixtures.

The away side broke the deadlock in the opening minutes when a long ball nodded by Romelu Lukaku went into the path of Robin Gosens, who hit in a first-time volley.

Inter were utterly dominant but wasteful for the rest of the game, as Nicolo Barella and Lukaku saw their attempts rattle the woodwork, while Salernitana punished them before the whistle when Candreva's seeming cross from the right flank looped over Andre Onana.

Inter remain fourth but could fall out of the Champions League zone after this weekend.

AC Milan were stalled by Empoli to a goalless tie. Despite their 70 percent ball-possession, the Rossoneri couldn't find the net. Olivier Giroud thought he had scored the last-gasp winner in the stoppage time but it was canceled out due to a handball.

Also on Friday, leaders Napoli beat Lecce 2-1 thanks to Giovanni Di Lorenzo's header and an own goal from the opposites. 

AC Milan's Alexis Saelemaekers (L) vies with Empoli's Ravzan Marin during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (R) vies with Empoli's Jacopo Fazzini during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

AC Milan's Sandro Tonali (L) vies with Empoli's Razvan Marin during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

AC Milan's Divock Origi (R) vies with Empoli's Fabiano Parisi during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao (L) vies with Empoli's Tyronne Ebuehi during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

AC Milan's Theo Hernandez (R) vies with Empoli's Tyronne Ebuehi during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Empoli in Milan, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

FC Inter's Kristjan Asllani (back) vies with Salernitana's Lassana Coulibaly during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and Salernitana in Salerno, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

FC Inter's Henrikh Mkhitaryan (R) vies with Salernitana's Boulaye Dia during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and Salernitana in Salerno, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

FC Inter's Francesco Acerbi (C) vies with Salernitana's Norbert Gyomber (L) and Flavius Daniliuc during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and Salernitana in Salerno, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

FC Inter's Romelu Lukaku (L) vies with Salernitana's Flavius Daniliuc during a Serie A football match between FC Inter and Salernitana in Salerno, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Lecce's Federico Di Francesco scores his goal during a Serie A football match between Napoli and Lecce in Lecce, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) vies with Lecce's Joan Gonzalez during a Serie A football match between Napoli and Lecce in Lecce, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Napoli's Kim Min-Jae (front) vies with Lecce's Antonino Gallo during a Serie A football match between Napoli and Lecce in Lecce, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Napoli's Hirving Lozano (L) vies with Lecce's Valentin Gendrey during a Serie A football match between Napoli and Lecce in Lecce, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Lecce's Antonino Gallo (2nd L) scores the own goal during a Serie A football match between Napoli and Lecce in Lecce, Italy, on April 7, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)