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Inter were reduced to 10 men for 70 minutes, but clung on for a point at the Stadio Friuli and risked a winner. There is set to be more controversy, as Roma close the gap to five points.
The Friulani were the only team to avoid defeat against Inter last season and had already held them to a 1-1 draw at San Siro in Week 1. Gyan Asamoah was at the African Cup of Nations and Giampiero Pinzi injured, while the visitors welcomed back Dejan Stankovic for Nuno Maniche. Long-term absentees remained Luis Figo, Olivier Dacourt, Walter Samuel, David Suazo, Cristian Chivu and Douglas Maicon. Neither side had the best week, the Nerazzurri scraping a controversial 3-2 victory over Parma and Udinese falling 1-0 on home turf to Milan.
Antonio Di Natale has been on sparkling form this season and almost scored an incredible goal after six minutes, the curling right-foot strike skimming the upright. Esteban Cambiasso went even closer as he ballooned a Zlatan Ibrahimovic cutback way over from eight yards, perhaps caught out by Julio Cruz's dummy.
Just 21 minutes into the match, Inter were reduced to 10 men, as Cesar Aparecido received two bookings in the space of 30 seconds, both for late tackles on Giandomenico Mesto. Roberto Mancini was furious and the tension rose at the Stadio Friuli. In the Coppa Italia midweek Inter had Nicolas Burdisso sent off after just five minutes, but still went 2-0 up against Juventus, though they were eventually held 2-2.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic also went into the book for clattering into Gokhan Inler and Julio Cesar did well to anticipate Fabio Quagliarella.
Despite being a man down, Cruz almost gave the Nerazzurri the lead, turning Lukovic on Ibra's header down to drill just past the far post.
Moments later Udinese went close with D'Agostino's cross wreaking havoc in the box, Burdisso eventually clearing from Andrea Dossena's finish.
After the restart Simone Pepe wasted a counter-attack, but Inter threatened an opener as well with Cruz firing straight at Samir Handanovic following a defensive error.
Ibrahimovic drilled a free kick inches past the base of the upright as it pierced the defensive wall. Julio Cesar did well to palm away a Di Natale snapshot and play was temporarily halted while the referee underwent treatment for a muscular problem.
The Nerazzurri were again livid when they had a goal disallowed on the hour mark. Stankovic took a free kick quickly and Ibrahimovic lobbed the goalkeeper, but the referee believed he had pushed Lukovic illegally.
Di Natale's sensational flick with his heel while running left Marco Materazzi eating dust, but at the other end Ibrahimovic skimmed the target with his right foot effort.
Despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, Roberto Mancini went for all three points and threw on Hernan Crespo for midfielder Cambiasso.
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