Napoli produced a stunning display to inflict the first league defeat of the season on champions Inter Milan on Sunday and breathe new life into the Serie A title race.
Coupled with AS Roma's 4-0 thrashing of Parma on Saturday the gap between the top two in Italy is down to six points.
The 1-0 loss was only Inter's second defeat in their last 65 league matches, the previous one being back in April at home to Roma.
PHOTO: REUTERS
It was also Inter's third match in a row without a win and suggests that some cracks are finally starting to show in their previously impenetrable armour.
Napoli even missed a second half penalty, giving coach Edy Reja some worrying moments.
Napoli came flying out of the traps and unsettled the champions who gifted their hosts the only goal of the game on three minutes.
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar needlessly came out of his area to meet a long through ball and took on Ezequiel Lavezzi but his touch was too heavy and he gave the ball to Marcelo Zalayeta who scored with a sumptuous first-time chip.
Julio Cesar went from villain to hero towards the end of the first half as he dived full length to keep out a sliced attempted clearance from Marco Materazzi as Napoli finished the half the way they began it.
Julio Cesar's erratic afternoon continued with a quarter of an hour to play as he was penalized for bringing down Walter Gargano, although replays proved he got a touch on the ball before tripping the Napoli man.
But he got up to dive the right way to save Zalayeta's spot-kick.
Pablo Osvaldo scored an injury time winner as Fiorentina came from behind to beat Juventus 3-2 in Turin and close in on third place.
Senegal forward N'diaye Papa Waigo scored his second goal in two weeks and set up the late winner.
Massimo Gobbi gave Fiorentina the lead in the first half but goals from Momo Sissoko and Mauro Camoranesi put Juve in control until the Viola turned things around.
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