The final game of the weekend in Serie A saw Napoli visit Genoa to play a Sampdoria side who’d started relatively well with a win over Lazio and an entertaining draw with Juventus. The visitors had drawn with Fiorentina and Bari, and also in the Europa League against FC Utrecht. Samp’s European exploits continued with an away point at PSV.
Despite dominating much of the first hour, Napoli made hard work of their win tonight. But the three points are in the bank and Walter Mazzarri’s season is finally underway.
Napoli started very positively, winning a succession of corners in the first quarter of an hour and piling on the early pressure as Sampdoria struggled to maintain any kind of possession in the Azzurri’s half.
Sampdoria enjoyed a couple of attacks after 25 minutes but Napoli were soon in charge again, always just a killer pass away from carving the Blucerchiati wide open. At the other end Antonio Cassano grew increasingly frustrated with the referee, particularly upset in the 31st minute when he was not awarded what would have been a soft but feasible penalty for a shove by Paolo Cannavaro.
The charismatic forward was dragging the home team back into the game, forcing Gianluca Grava into a last-ditch tackle after breaking past the rest of the Napoli defence, but every time he threatened the visitors came back with an attack of their own.
Despite almost total first half dominance, Napoli couldn’t break the deadlock before half time. Andrea Dossena came closest with a stinging effort that was turned away from goal by Gianluca Curci.
They started the second half in similarly imperious fashion and Walter Gargano’s drive wide of Curci’s goal in the 55th minute signalled another wave of attacks from the Vesuviani. Four minutes later Edinson Cavani stayed on his feet when fouled and drew a simple save from the Sampdoria goalkeeper.
The Azzurri were almost punished for their profligacy when a lovely curling effort from distance by Stefano Guberti rattled Morgan De Sanctis’ crossbar as Sampdoria began to put pressure on the visitors for the first time after an hour.
Napoli also hit the woodwork in the 72nd minute when Gargano’s superb free kick cannoned off the underside of the crossbar. But the game turned bad for Napoli in the 77th minute when a poor chip from Cassano was rescued by a foul on substitute Nicola Pozzi in the area by Cannavaro. Antonio Cassano took the penalty and beat De Sanctis, leaving Napoli to rue their wasted dominance.
Napoli’s equaliser was a work of the purest genius. An 83rd minute free kick from 40 yards was lined up for a shot by Gargano, but the Uruguayan’s disguised pass to the edge of the area found Marek Hamsik, whose control and composure were as impeccable as his finish.
Just two minutes later, it was 2-1 to the visitors. Ezequiel Lavezzi’s cross from the left was inviting and Edinson Cavani got across his marker to prod the ball into the net through Curci’s legs.
Napoli’s first victory of the season was well deserved but eventually came only because they were able to edge out Sampdoria in a breathless final 15 minutes. Even at 0-0, this was an exciting game. With the added goals, it became a thriller.
[...] And in Italy. Cesena are sharing the top of Serie A with Inter after beating Lecce 1-0. Inter left their win against Palermo until late, letting Palermo have the lead until the 62nd minute, when Samuel Eto’o bagged a brace in less than ten minutes. Juventus kicked some Udinese rear, literally, with a 4-0 win complemented by four cards. But the big story was Napoli beating Sampdoria 2-1. Although Napoli had been the better side for most of the match, Samp took the lead through Antonio Cassano’s converted penalty in the 78th minute. But Napoli came roaring back, with Marek Hamsik scoring off a free kick before Edinson Cavani sent the equalizer through keeper Gianluca Curci legs. For more on this one, visit Two Footed Tackle. [...]