Napoli were beaten at home for the first time this season as
Fiorentina recovered from their Champions League disappointment
against Bayern Munich in midweek with a fortunate 3-1 win.
Ezequiel Lavezzi put Napoli on course for what looked like an
easy win for the home side in the 47th minute, but shortly after
they were denied a clear penalty, Fiorentina turned the game on its
head.
Two goals from Alberto Gilardino and a third from Stevan
Jovetic in stoppage time earned the Viola a win which lifts them to
within a point of ninth-placed Genoa and back in the hunt for a
place in Europe next season.
Napoli had not lost any of their last 42 home matches which
have taken place under the floodlights at the Stadio San Paolo.
The home side created enough opportunities to win their
remaining 10 Serie A fixtures this season, and yet they left the
field beaten for the first time on a night since 2004.
German Denis was guilty of missing the most chances with no
fewer than three headers in the first half which were all saved by
Sebastian Frey.
The French goalkeeper made an incredible one-handed
intervention to deny him in the 32nd minute before the Napoli
striker headed wide from the subsequent corner.
Walter Gargano, one of the smallest players on the field,
could have done with a few more inches to reach a cross from just
five yards with only Frey to beat, but the ball simply would not go
in.
The threat continued to arrive from the Napoli right where
Christian Maggio, who decided the first game between the two sides
earlier this season with his late goal, was sending in cross after
cross.
While Denis had missed all of his chances, Lavezzi took his
first to head Napoli in front in the 47th minute.
Juan Zuniga powered through and had his shot saved two
minutes later before Marek Hamsik's low cross was played just
behind Denis.
Napoli were dominating and should have been ahead in the 59th
minute in an incident which was the turning point in the match.
Lavezzi raced clear and, just as he was preparing to shoot,
he was fouled by Felipe.
However, the referee waved play on, denying Napoli not only
of a clear penalty, but what would also have been a red card for
the Fiorentina defender.
And Fiorentina scored with a sucker punch less than 60
seconds later with Gilardino stealing in at the near post to head
Jovetic's cross in.
Napoli's heads dropped as they saw a game they should have
been leading comfortably slip away from them.
Gilardino added the Viola's second in the 87th minute as he
diverted Jovetic's header past Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis
from point-blank range.
Maggio almost grabbed a last-gasp equaliser, but Frey pushed
his header wide, prompting De Sanctis to race forward for the
corner deep in stoppage time.
He got caught in possession on the edge of the Fiorentina
penalty area and Khouma Babacar played an intelligent ball forward
for Jovetic to chase and stroke into the open goal to seal
Fiorentina's shock win.
