Napoli 2-2 AC Milan: Late Drama Ensures Points Are Shared

Napoli fought back from two goals down against AC Milan at the Stadio San Paolo to register a thrilling injury-time draw in Serie A. Substitutes Luca Cigarini and German Denis both scored late to give Walter Mazzarri another encouraging boost as the new coach of the Vesuviani.

A lightening quick double salvo in the first five minutes had put Milan in the ascendancy; Morgan De Sanctis had only touched the ball to bring it out of his net by the time Alexandre Pato embellished the Rossoneri's lead, which was given to them by Filippo Inzaghi.

The veteran, inside two minutes, was onside to connect with Clarence Seedorf's lobbed through-ball. Napoli misjudged their defensive line and 'Super Pippo' had his first goal in 13 Serie A outings with an unerring left-footed volley.

Inzaghi then flicked on an up-field clearance and Pato gave chase. Again, the offside trap was poor and the young, in-form Brazilian made no mistake in his finish against the team which he claimed his first ever Serie A goal.

The hosts were on the ropes but recovered their composure as the half progressed. Alessandro Nesta had been forced off with a groin strain by that stage and Marek Hamsik, in particular, looked threatening.

He registered the Vesuviani's first strike on goal, narrowly off target in the 10th minute amid the jeers and cat-calls of the dissatisfied San Paolo crowd.

Ezequiel Lavezzi then laid-off to the Slovakia international but he was well repelled by Dida. 

Undeterred, Napoli pressed the northerners into their own half, and the guests could barely break through the midfield ranks patrolled gamely by Walter Gargano and Michele Pazienza.

Thiago Silva misjudged the flight of a Fabio Quagliarella knock down but was relieved to see his colleague Ignazio Abate smother a certain chance for Lavezzi inside the area just after the 20 minute mark.

Leonardo's team continued their attempts to soak up the pressure of the Partenopei, who could not yet conjure the combination to unlock the opposition defence. 

The hosts would claim a penalty before the break; Gianluca Zambrotta was accused of wrestling Leandro Rinaudo to the ground inside the area, but the Azzurri were left frustrated.

Nonetheless, Mazzarri's side continued where they left off after the break and should have been back in the tie within a minute of the restart.

A Lavezzi long-range drive was parried into the path of Christian Maggio, who will wonder how he managed to find the splaying figure of Dida rather than the net from only a matter of yards.

The lively Lavezzi then capitalised on an Abate error to fire a volley over before Dida pulled off a remarkable treble save. 

Just before the hour, Quagliarella's fine pass permitted a Lavezzi shot from the edge of the area and his effort fell into the path of Gargano. Dida smothered at the Uruguayan's feet before the ball broke back to Quagliarella; he, too, was denied by Dida before a third stop prevented the marauding Hamsik inside the six-yard area.

Milan were well and truly shackled at that stage but managed the occasional break-out.

From one, Inzaghi rolled the ball in off a Pato pass but he was ruled offside; moments later and 'Pippo' fired over with the goal at his mercy, this time it was the subdued Andrea Pirlo with the assist.

As time progressed and the locals made for the exits prematurely, the sting seemed to be taken out of the Napoli ranks, despite the barnstorming finish in store.

They introduced Luca Cigarini, German Denis and Jesus Datolo from reserve; Denis, the forward, prompted an optimistic penalty appeal - one which was followed quickly by another from Lavezzi - which was also ignored.

The hosts did have one vital decision go in their favour towards the dying embers; Abate, once a Napoli player, was issued with a second yellow card following a rash foul on Gargano to place added stress on his manager.

Milan reeled as Napoli continued to knock on the door. A corner on the stroke of 90 minutes was headed only to the edge of the box from where Cigarini lashed home to sweetest of left-footed volleys.

The crowd again found their voice as the Rossoneri wilted; Ninety-three minutes had elapsed by the time Maggio turned a cross into the centre; Denis rose highest to plant a late leveller into the corner of the net.

Napoli remain a tough nut to crack on their own turf while some familiar failings were again exposed in the Milan back-line.

Peter Staunton, Goal.com