Midfielder Daniele De Rossi came closest to grabbing a first-half equaliser with a dipping shot that visiting keeper Julio Cesar did well to tip behind for a corner.

At the other end, Doni had to pull off a full-stretch save to prevent Dejan Stankovic doubling Inter's lead with a free kick just before halftime.

After an evenly-balanced first half Roma's players seemed transformed following the interval, closing down their opponents and pushing up aggressively in search of the equaliser.

Rodrigo Taddei was the first to threaten Inter's goal, when he turned Christian Panucci's cross wide at the near post.

The striker made up for his miss in the 55th minute, breaking down the right to send in a low ball, which De Rossi back-heeled neatly into the path of Mancini who swept home past Cesar to level the scores with the best move of the match.

Roma continued to create the better chances and almost snatched a stoppage-time winner when Simone Perrotta set up Edgar Alvarez on the edge of the box but the midfielder scuffed his shot into the ground.

"We made things difficult for ourselves. We messed up passes that normally we make," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.

"But in the second half we tightened things up and the chances came. It's just a shame we let in the early goal. To go behind so quickly was a real setback".