Napoli fought back from a two-goal deficit for the second time in three days to shock Juventus 3-2 in Turin on Saturday and prevent Ciro Ferrara’s team from closing the gap on leaders Inter Milan.
Marco Borriello scored a brace as improving AC Milan moved up to fourth with a 2-0 defeat of newly promoted Parma, who dropped to sixth place.
Having scored two injury-time goals to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Milan on Wednesday, Napoli produced an even more successful comeback.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Marek Hansik scored a brace while substitute Jesus Datolo scored one and created one as Napoli moved up to fifth, while second-placed Juve remain four points behind Inter.
Four times in the first 22 minutes Napoli’s German Denis was presented with goalscoring chances, but three times he headed wide from close range and with the fourth he failed to even make contact.
Juve finally started to exert some pressure themselves and Felipe Melo shot inches wide after Diego teed him up.
The hosts then took the lead out of the blue as Zdenek Grygera cut in from the right onto his left foot and sent a delightful inswinging cross for veteran French forward David Trezeguet, who made an expert run across the line and headed home.
Juve doubled their lead on 54 minutes after more poor defending from Napoli as Matteo Contini inexplicably headed a Trezeguet cross down to Sebastien Giovinco, who gratefully accepted the gift.
Napoli did not let their heads drop, though, and were quickly back in the game as Hamsik rifled home at the back post from Datolo’s cross on 59 minutes.
Datolo equalized five minutes later as Denis won another header at a corner with Gianluigi Buffon palming the ball away and Datolo sweeping home the rebound.
The winner came from a lightning counter attack, with Ezequiel Lavezzi feeding the overlapping Datolo out on the left and after Tiago failed to clear his cross, Hamsik followed up to fire high into the top corner from 12 yards.
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