Cagliari 3-3 Napoli: Late Drama Ends In Six Goal Thriller

A fine team display by Napoli was spoiled after they threw away a two goal lead against Cagliari. But they fought back to rescue a point having gone behind. Goals either side of the interval by Ezequiel Lavezzi and Michele Pazienza saw the Campani storm ahead, but Joaquin Larrivey pulled one back for the Sardinians 15 minutes before the end, with Alessandro Matri adding a second. Super substitute Jeda came off the bench and appeared to score the winner with his first touch. However, Mariano Bogliacino stole the spectacle to salvage a point. Napoli emotions boiled over at the death and Lavezzi was sent off after blasting the ball at Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Both teams came into the game in good health with Cagliari having scored 21 goals in their last 12 games. However, it was a slow start as neither side tested the goalkeepers early on. Andrea Lazzari had the first attempt on goal. But his effort was more of a speculative cross-shot that went over Morgan De Sanctis’ cross-bar.

The home side were good at building up as they searched for a goal, but clumsy play in the final third let them down. Matri was a nuisance with his runs in behind the Napoli defense; the problem was he failed to time then as he was caught offside on Andrea Cossu's cross.

The talking point of the early play came from De Sanctis. He moaned about a laser being pointed in his eyes from the crowd. It had no influence on his performance though as he stood firm to deny Cossu after the midfielder waltzed his way into the box. A public announcement came on the speaker system regarding the laser, but it had no affect.

Walter Mazzarri appeared frustrated early on. He was playing with star trio Fabio Quagliarella, Marek Hamsik and Lavezzi, but neither appeared to deliver the impact he was looking for. Hamsik looked labored as he delivered a poor cross for Christian Maggio at the back post.

Lavezzi then leaped into action. A long ball from Walter Gargano was knocked on by Hamsik for the Argentinean. ‘El Pocho’ controlled the ball and went on one of his mazy runs before sending his shot just wide of the near post. He was unable to tuck his sweet left foot effort past Federico Marchetti.

The Azzurri were soon in their stride. They did have the ball in the back of the net, but Quagliarella’s tap-in from inside the area after latching onto Lavezzi’s daisy-cutter was chalked off for offside. Cagliari did show the warning signs to their opponents. Nene did well to control a loose ball before firing on the turn. De Sanctis was beaten, but the ball just bent past the post to go wide.

However, it was the visitors who drew first blood. Lavezzi came in deep, left Lazzari standing with the drop of a shoulder before firing home with his right foot to score his third of the campaign with aplomb. Marchetti had no chance as the ball angled itself into the bottom corner. ‘El Pocho’ continued his penchant for scoring away from the San Paolo as all his goals this term have come on the road.

The Isolani tried to respond and created a number of chances. But, they were unable to breach a well guarded Azzurri defense. Paolo Cannavaro did brilliantly to deny Cossu from close range.

Lavezzi should have put the game beyond the home side when Quagliarella found him with a pin-point cross. The hitman volleyed, but failed to make contact with the ball when he was all unmarked. Napoli continued to press for a second. Hamsik was denied by Marchetti. The Slovakian did well to open space and he drilled a low shot towards goal, but a fine save stopped him from scoring.

Hamsik was at the center of the action again as his side continued to press forward. Another left-foot shot was saved, but the move led to the corner that saw his side double their lead. Pazienza was first to react on the loose ball. Rossoblu players stood and watched as he stabbed the ball into the net.

The home side did give the crowd something to cheer about after Larrivey struck late on to open up the game. The hitman did well to send his left foot striker into the bottom corner following Matri's cross. Napoli suddenly appeared to give up as Matri latched onto Cossu's cross to increase hope. Jeda came off the bench to replace Cossu and he appeared to win the game with his first touch of the ball, only for Bogliacino to go down the other end to head home and draw the game.

Salvatore Landolina, Goal.com