Porto share the honours with Inter

Inter Milan's Giuseppe Favalli (R) challenges Porto's Maniche. Reigning champions Porto, who went so close to falling at the group stage, kept their Champions League title defence on course with a lively 1-1 draw in the first leg of their knockout round tie against Inter.

Reigning champions Porto, who went so close to falling at the group stage, kept their Champions League title defence on course with a lively 1-1 draw in the first leg of their knockout round tie against Inter Milan.

Porto had their keeper Vitor Baia to thank for keeping the honours even with some deft late saves after Obafemi Martins gave Inter a first half lead with Ricardo Costa getting a second half equaliser.

"Inter played very well tonight even if we could have won," said the Italians' coach Roberto Mancini.

"We could have won 2-1 but I say 'bravo' to Vitor Baia. They have a good team."

Porto coach Jose Couceiro admitted that the Italians will be favourites in the second leg.

"Inter have the advantage but we still have a chance of qualifying," he said.

"They defended well and scored from an error on our part. We had control of the match but we played with the heart and not with the brain."

Mancini rested Alvaro Recoba, Edgar Davids and Christian Vieri with a view to saving them for this weekend's Milan derby while Porto welcomed back South African Benni McCarthy and Pedro Emanuel from suspension.

Porto will have been disappointed to go into the break trailing after failing to convert some decent chances, with Inter keeper Francesco Toldo doing well to keep out Ricardo Quaresmo's low shot in the 12th minute.

Toldo was called into action seconds later when McCarthy had a long range shot on target for the hosts.

Then in the 24th minute Martins put the Italians in front.

Inter Milan's Adriano (L) is challenged by Porto's Giourkas Seitaridis. Reigning champions Porto, who went so close to falling at the group stage, kept their Champions League title defence on course with a lively 1-1 draw in the first leg of their knockout round tie against Inter.

Inter's Yugoslav midfielder Dejan Stankovic muscled past Porto's Greek defender Georgios Giourkas to slip the ball across to the waiting Martins who tapped in to an empty net.

The speedy Nigerian has proved a useful servant to Inter in this Champions League, the 20-year-old having bagged a double to ensure Inter topped their group against Anderlecht in December.

Porto will have been frustrated to have gone into the break trailing after some decent attacking moves came to nothing, something the fans at the Dragao stadium have become used to as Porto are without a home win here since mid-December.

Their deserved equaliser came in the 61st minute when defender Nuno Valente's long cross found Costinha lurking at the back post, the midfielder feeding the ball for Costa who blasted it high into Toldo's net.

Inter's Adriano then went close to bagging his fifth goal in the competition from five appearances but his low strike from the edge of the penalty area was denied by Baia.

A flurry of substitutions in the closing minutes failed to break the status quo although Esteban Cambiasso went desperately close to grabbing a late winner but his header was kept out by Baia's brilliance.

Aside from their all-important away goal Inter will also be satisfied with their night's work as it extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 39 matches.