Luca Tonelli on Saturday completed a dream debut for SSC Napoli by hitting a last-gasp winner in a 2-1 defeat of 10-man UC Sampdoria that closed the gap on leaders Juventus to four points.
Napoli looked to be heading for only a share of the points at the Stadio San Paolo when Manolo Gabiadini came off the bench to hit a late equalizer after Elseid Hysaj’s own-goal gave a dogged Samp a surprise 1-0 lead on the half-hour mark.
However, Tonelli, making his first start for Napoli since arriving from Empoli six months ago amid the absence of Algerian Faouzi Ghoulam at the Africa Cup of Nations, sparked wild celebrations in the fifth minute of added-on time when he fired Ivan Strinic’s cutback from the left past goalkeeper Christian Puggioni and into the roof of the net.
Napoli’s 11th win of the season closed the gap on Juventus, who were yesterday to host Bologna, to four points, although the champions would also have a game in hand following their recent commitments in the Supercoppa Italiana final, which they lost to AC Milan in Doha.
“When I saw the ball come to me, all I thought was: ‘I have to score,’” Tonelli told Sky Sport. “I’ve had to work hard to get over some physical problems in recent months, but I was ready. We showed tonight that we never give up. We came away with a deserved three points.”
Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero was furious with what he said was slack refereeing following the sending off of Matias Silvestre for a foul on goalkeeper Pepe Reina on the hour.
“I want the referee [Marco] Di Bello to hold up his hands, and to get sanctioned by the federation. Silvestre’s sending off was wrong, he didn’t touch Reina,” Ferrero said.
“And Napoli were offside at least eight times! Come on, we’ve had enough. And why, ask me, was there five minutes added on at the end?” he added.
Napoli dominated throughout a tactical and entertaining encounter, but after a rooted Pepe Reina saw Ricky Alvarez’s free-kick shave post and crossbar, Patrick Schick got past his marker on the right to deliver a cross that came off the chest of Hysaj and into the Napoli net for Samp’s opener.
Sampdoria striker Luis Muriel replaced Fabio Quagliarella shortly after the restart and was a constant thorn in the side of the Napoli defense.
However, the visitors were stunned when Silvestre, who earned a caution earlier, saw red for obstructing Reina on the hour, although it took Napoli some time to capitalize on their advantage.
On 68 minutes, Mertens spurned a great chance for the equalizer when he hit wide from Callejon’s delivery and the Belgian came close soon after with a header that crept wide.
Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri introduced Gabbiadini for Jorginho with 19 minutes left and was rewarded soon after when the lanky striker tapped home Callejon’s cut-back from close range after a Insigne’s long ball over the defense.
It gave Napoli momentum, but it took the hosts until six minutes from time for their next real chance, Gabbiadini’s angled strike from Insigne’s smart nod-down finding the legs of Puggioni at the near post.
However, the hosts kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Tonelli arrived just in time to meet Strinic’s superb cutback with a confident strike.
Earlier, a late penalty from veteran striker Massimo Maccarone condemned struggling US Citta di Palermo to a 1-0 defeat at Empoli.
Palermo coach Eugenio Corini is the club’s third this season, having been appointed to help stave off the growing threat of relegation.
However, three weeks after a dramatic 4-3 win at Genoa ended a run of nine consecutive defeats, the Sicilians sunk to a 13th defeat of the season that keeps them third from bottom and now seven points behind Empoli, who sit fourth from bottom.
GUNNING FOR A WIN: The victory sending Arsenal to the final for the first time in six years was cathartic for a team who had lost their previous four semi-finals Arsenal on Tuesday reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg. Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the 4-2 aggregate victory in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in last year’s UEFA Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 UEFA Europa League. In their first final for six years,
SUPERSTAR DELIVERS: Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to propel the Spurs to a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday shook off the early exit of injured star Luka Doncic, rallying without him in the second half for a 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Austin Reaves, again coming off the bench in his second game back from a 19-game injury absence, scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, drilling a pair of back-to-back three-pointers to give the Lakers their first lead of the game early in the final frame. “Losing Luka, you know nothing’s going to be easy after that because he does so much for us, but we bonded together,” said
DEADLINE DAY: Rennes’ Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off the move due to the Blues’ bloated squad Liverpool on Monday won the race to sign Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet on the quiet final day of the English Premier League transfer window, while Crystal Palace swooped for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen despite the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move to AC Milan. The Reds agreed a reported fee of up to ￡60 million (US$82 million) for the highly rated Jacquet. However, the 20-year-old will not join the Premier League champions until the summer despite Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements. Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off
Ademola Lookman on Thursday scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis Balompie that sent Diego Simeone’s team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as they advanced to the last four for the third straight season. Atletico are trying to reach their first Copa final since winning the competition in 2012-2013. Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th, before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast
RSS