Rome: Napoli scored two goals in injury time
to hold 10-man AC Milan to a draw in Serie A and end the
seven-time European champions recent winning run.
Juventus went second in the table as they thrashed
high-flying Sampdoria, who drop to third, 5-1 in Turin.
But the real drama came in Naples where late goals from
Luca Cigarini and German Denis earned Napoli a richly deserved
point after Ignazio Abate was sent off four minutes from time
yesterday.
Having developed a habit of starting slowly this season,
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had promised president,
and Italy Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi that they would
stop torturing him.
The team seemed to heed the advice and came flying out of
the blocks, only to then collapse late on.
"We started the way we should have, we had spoken a lot
about what we should do but we scored two goals too quickly
because then it's not easy to manage the next 85 minutes,"
said Milan coach Leonardo.
"It was an incredible finish, the sending off was
decisive. But we played well, the way we played cant be held
against us."
After 6min they were already 2-0 ahead as Napoli's
defensive line was ruthlessly exposed.
Filippo Inzaghi ran onto Clarence Seedorf's chip over the
top on 2min before finishing left footed.
And four minutes later he flicked on a long ball for Alex
Pato to run onto from a suspiciously offside-looking position
before outstripping the defence and finishing with aplomb.
Thereafter, though, it was all about goalkeeper Dida and
some profligate shooting from the hosts, in particular
Cristian Maggio who failed to beat a stricken Dida from six
yards out early in the second period.
But after Abate earned a second yellow card Napoli
finally found the finish they had been lacking as Cigarini
lashed home a left-foot volley.
And then deep into injury time Denis headed home a cross
from the right to send the San Paolo crowd into delirium.
In Turin Juventus rediscovered their form in a stroll
against the only team that stood between them and leaders
Inter Milan.
Juve leapfrogged Sampdoria into second and just one point
behind Inter, who host Palermo today, thanks to goals from
Amauri (two), Giorgio Chiellini, Mauro Camoranesi and David
Trezeguet.
"Tonight we played better than in Rome and in Genoa,
everything worked perfectly," said Juve coach Ciro Ferrara.”
"The lads gave everything, they pulled off a great match,
and hence we scored five goals but it was the desire that was
most important."
Amauri opened the scoring on 26min when the ball fell
kindly to him, after his initial header hit team-mate Momo
Sissoko, to shoot home.
He then turned provider on 42min as a marauding
Chiellini, up from the back, found himself between Sampdoria's
centre-backs when the Brazilian's deflected cross landed at
his feet five yards out.
The game was soon over as Diego sent Sebastian Giovinco
free down the left and he picked out Camoranesi to side foot
home from the penalty spot.
Camoranesi then sent in a delightful curling cross from
the right for Amauri to head home his second as Sampdoria
crumbled.
Giampaolo Pazzini pulled a goal back for the visitors
before French veteran Trezeguet rounded off the scoring late
on.
Newly-promoted Parma moved up to fourth, and a Champions
League position, as they beat fellow Serie A newboys Bari 2-0.
AS Roma lost for the third game in a row as they fell 2-1
at Udinese in a game in which both teams had a player sent
off.
Lowly Livorno won their second match in a row since new
coach Serse Cosmi took over as they beat Atalanta 1-0.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 12:35