VIDEO: Perisic's equaliser helps Inter avoid embarrassing loss vs. Hellas Verona

Inter Milan was less than 15 minutes away from losing to Hellas Verona until Ivan Perisic saved his side from an embarrassing loss to the Serie A bottom-feeders.

Roberto Mancini's men looked like a side destined to lose the contest when Verona midfielder Artur Ionita gave the home side a 3-1 lead minutes after the break.

However, Mauro Icardi gave Inter a lifeline when he got on the end of Perisic's cross to cut the deficit to one.

The Croatian international played a vital role in the 78th minute when a cross into the box was mistimed by Icardi, and fortunately for Inter, fell to Perisic, who thumped his shot in from a tight angle.

Although Verona 'keeper Pierluigi Gollini should have done better to stop the effort as it hit off his hands and into goal, Inter will be grateful to avoid a loss.

Inter sits in fourth place with 45 points, one behind Fiorentina, while Verona's failure to win its second match of the season has the club firmly at the bottom of the table on 15 points.