GOONERSGUIDE ITALIAN SERIE A NEWS SECTION

This is our Italian Serie A news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

Italian Serie A News :: Serie A : Napoli 3 - 1 Milan - Shock at the San Paolo !!

Posted on 2008-05-11 by Gooner

Milan's Champions League place is back in Fiorentina's hands after this disastrous defeat at the San Paolo.

The Rossoneri were back on track and leapfrogged Fiorentina into fourth place last week, but faced a tough test to keep hold of it, as the likes of Inter and Juventus had already fallen at the San Paolo.

Cristian Brocchi filled in for the suspended Andrea Pirlo, while Yoann Gourcuff joined the injury list. Fabiano Santacroce and Manuele Blasi sat out bans for the home side, who wanted revenge for losing 5-2 at San Siro in January.

Napoli hadn't won this Serie A fixture since 1995, followed by two draws and as many defeats. There were early penalty appeals for a possible Clarence Seedorf handling offence on Marek Hamsik's cross and Alessandro Nesta needed a crucial intervention to stop Ezequiel Lavezzi turning in Roberto Sosa's cutback.

Lavezzi burst between two defenders and the delightful finish with the outside of his right boot flashed over the goal from six yards. Sosa's volley was just off target too and Lavezzi fired wide again as Milan were under the cosh.

The deserved opener finally arrived for Napoli with a simply extraordinary goal. Hamsik gathered from a Milan corner, ran the entire length of the pitch and smacked a precise right-foot finish into the near bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Gennaro Gattuso stung Navarro's palms, but Sosa just failed to get on the end of a loose ball at the back post. Kaka went on a solo run to test Navarro and Pippo Inzaghi couldn't finish off the rebound.

Alexandre Pato came on for the second half, pushing Seedorf back into midfield. Kaka skipped past Maurizio Domizzi, but fired over rather than crossing for Inzaghi.

Zeljko Kalac fumbled a Walter Gargano effort, but made up for it by smothering Sosa's follow-up.

Napoli were playing at full pelt and Nesta's sliding tackle from behind on Lavezzi was mistimed, so the referee pointed to the spot. Domizzi stepped up to convert under the bar with a powerful finish.

Pato should have got one back, but incredibly ballooned over from close range!

Instead Bogliacino nearly scored a third, as his curling finish thumped the woodwork. Gyorgy Garics got it in stoppage time, totally unmarked to volley in a Mannini cross from the left, as Milan had stopped playing some time ago.

Only Seedorf managed to net a consolation goal in stoppages with a deflected low free kick at the near post.

Sourced From : Football Italia

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