Simone Inzaghi snatched a last-minute equaliser as leaders Lazio avoided a shock home defeat to Lecce.

Surprise leaders Lazio welcomed the former club of both Delio Rossi and Cristian Ledesma. The Biancocelesti got off to a stunning start and topped the table for the first time in six years, while Mauro Zarate was Capocannoniere on six goals in five games. Lecce weren't doing at all badly either, with seven points under their belts going into this weekend.

Stefano Mauri had the first chance after eight minutes, chesting down a Goran Pandev ball over the top and firing over from a very tight angle as Francesco Benussi came rushing out.

Lecce also threatened with Juan Pablo Carrizo smothering a Nacho Castillo angled drive from close range.

Benussi flew to slap a marvellous Ledesma free kick out from under the crossbar, as it swung inwards from the outer corner of the box. Polenghi then had to clear a very dangerous Lichtsteiner cutback from six yards and the same full-back tested Benussi with a snapshot.

It may have been all Lazio early on, but Lecce took the lead with their first real opportunity on 26 minutes. Simone Tiribocchi was left criminally unmarked for a header into the ground on Polenghi's cross from the right, as both the defence and Carrizo were caught napping. It was the first goal the Biancocelesti had conceded this season at the Olimpico.

Pasquale Foggia had a shot charged down and Zarate drilled wide, but it was almost 2-0 as Tiribocchi again found space on the counter and only a brave sliding tackle from Sebastiano Siviglia managed to cut off the ball as he pulled the trigger.

Pandev and Guillermo Giacomazzi were booked for a scuffle and in first half stoppages the Lazio striker was livid when the referee waved play on for what he considered to be a penalty.

Mourad Meghni came off the bench and immediately dribbled past two defenders, but blasted over. Zarate got to the by-line and rolled back with both Pandev and Meghni unable to get on the end of it from seven yards.

A Ledesma right-foot screamer from 25 metres skimmed the top corner, but a fantastic free kick from substitute Aleksandr Kolarov smashed against the crossbar from a narrow angle, perhaps with the aid of a fingertip save from Benussi.

Foggia really should have equalised on 68 minutes. Cristian Brocchi won back the ball and sparked a counter, it was spread out by Kolarov for the unmarked Foggia, who blasted over.

Zarate went on a strong run to set up Meghni's daisy-cutter that was well smothered at the near post by Benussi. The goalkeeper also captured a Pandev curler on the counter, but the Macedonian wasn't his usual precise self and wasted an even better opportunity when he spun round his defender only to drill wide from nine yards!

Fabiano cleared Brocchi's cross off the foot of Pandev and Ledesma curled a free kick inches off target with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Lazio were piling forward and finally managed to draw level with 90 seconds left on the clock. Substitute Simone Inzaghi, who was making his first Serie A appearance of the season, netted a poacher's goal. The long Zarate ball was flicked on by a Gugliemo Stendardo header and Inzaghino was at full stretch to tap in at the back post. He had not netted in the top flight since 2004-05.