In the day's late match, Inter Milan drew for the seventh time in nine matches as Leonardo Jose Talamonti's late equaliser earned Lazio a point at the San Siro.

Inter had taken the lead 19 seconds after half time when Adriano rifled in his seventh goal of the season, before the Argentine defender headed home Massimo Oddo's crossed free-kick.

AC Milan have 20 points from their nine matches, two less than Juventus who play at home to Chievo on Sunday, while Inter climb to fourth despite their draw but are nine points off the pace.

Shevchenko started as a substitute in Genoa as he only returned from his wife's bedside on Saturday afternoon after being present at the birth of his son Jordan a day earlier.

But the 28-year-old Ukrainian striker came off the bench to net the winner 14 minutes from time, pouncing on the rebound after Serginho's attempted chip had been blocked by Francesco Antonioli.

"I am so happy," said Shevchenko after grabbing his sixth goal of the campaign in Genoa.

"Yesterday I became a father and it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Today I wanted to give a hand to my colleagues and I was able to do so. These three points are extremely important as it keeps us in touch with Juventus."

Roberto Mancini's past came back to haunt him as Lazio robbed Inter of all three points.

Mancini left Lazio to join Inter in the summer after two years in charge of the Rome club.

The Inter coach was incensend with referee Matteo Simone Trefoloni for awarding the late free-kick from which allowed Lazio to level the score.

He ran over to Trefeloni after the match and shouted: "Tell me what foul you whistled for - you're a disgrace."

After a dull first half, Inter took the lead through Adriano. The burly Brazilian ran on to a long pass from Sinisa Mihajlovic and sprinted past Fernando Couto before firing a powerful drive between the near post and Lazio keeper Matteo Sereni.

Lazio restored parity six minutes from time when Talamonti rose above everybody to score his first goal in Serie A.

Inter came within inches of secure victory in the closing stages, but Sereni tipped Alvaro Recoba's curled free-kick onto the crossbar.

Lazio are something of a jinx on Inter, who have not beaten the Rome club home or away since 1996.