Football: Guarin error costs Inter points in Europe race

ROME - Inter Milan let three points slip from their grasp in their quest for European competition next season on Monday as they allowed relegation-threatened Livorno to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in their Serie A clash.

Colombian Fredy Guarin's terrible backpass five minutes from time let in Livorno's Swiss-Nigerian Innocent Emeghara to level at 2-2 which leaves Livorno still in the relegation places but only a point off fourth from bottom Bologna.

Inter remain in fifth place but only three points ahead of Atalanta, who are in seventh which is not good enough for competing in Europe next term.

Inter had taken a firm hold on the match by the time half-time came as Brazilian Hernanes scored his first goal for them since he joined from Lazio while their freescoring Argentinian Rodrigo Palacio netted his 14th of the campaign in time added on of the first-half.

Livorno reduced the deficit nine minutes into the second-half as Brazilian Paulinho outfoxed the Inter defence to score from a corner.

Inter, though, looked to be easing to the three points until Guarin's terrible error.

Inter coach Walter Mazzarri - who was born near Livorno and guided them into Serie A in 2004 - was fairly relaxed about the mistake afterwards.

"It was a dreadful mistake but football is like that, one makes errors," he said.

"Bad luck can happen, we have to support him.

"From time to time you have a bad day, but one like today... the result bears no relation with the team's performance, it is enough to watch the match to see that is the truth."