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Juventus 2-3 Napoli: Comeback Kings Strike Again As Bianconeri Falter

The Partenopei fought back from two goals down in the second half to record an astonishing victory at the Stadio Olimpico...

Oct 31, 2009 6:54:51 PM

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Marek Hamsik - Napoli (Grazia Neri)

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Juventus threw away a two-goal lead as Napoli won an enthralling contest in Turin. David Trezeguet and Sebastian Giovinco had given the hosts control of the match, but Marek Hamsik scored either side of Jesus Datolo's strike to give the Partenopei the points. Amauri was sent off late on for the hosts.

Ciro Ferrara retained the 4-2-3-1 formation that worked wonders last time out, although Christian Poulsen replaced Mohamed Sissoko as one of the holding midfielders. Trezeguet also took Amauri's place as the lone striker. German Denis started ahead of Fabio Quagliarella for the visitors, who also started Paolo Cannavaro, brother of Juventus' Fabio, in defence.

The hosts started the way they left off against Sampdoria, and Giovinco could have opened the scoring in the first minute but he shot just wide after being played through on goal by Mauro Camoranesi.

While Juventus had the better of the early play, Denis had a golden opportunity to put Napoli in front in the seventh minute. After Ezequiel Lavezzi fired a low ball across the face of the goal, Christian Maggio centred the ball back into the six-yard box but Denis was caught between using his head and his foot, and in the end used neither as the ball flashed past him.

Denis had another opportunity in the 18th minute as he collected another pass from the energetic Lavezzi, but as he was turning he slipped in the penalty area to gift possession back to the hosts. Gianluigi Buffon was called into action minutes later as he did incredibly well to touch over a long-range shot from Salvatore Aronica. From the resulting corner, Matteo Contini's header floated just wide of the post as Lavezzi tried to connect.

Napoli were in the ascendancy, and had clearly planned a routine from corners. In the 23rd minute, Marek Hamsik's delivery found Denis, but the Argentine failed to get a good connection on his header.

Juventus were also creating opportunities as Felipe Melo shot just wide following good work by Diego. The game had to be stopped in the 27th minute as Camoranesi went down clutching his head, with blood pouring from a wound. Replays showed that Contini had led with his elbow as the two clashed, but neither the referee nor his assistants had picked up on the challenge.

The winger had to be substituted, with Tiago coming on in his place. It didn't stop the Bianconeri attacks, and they caught out the Partenopei defence in the 35th minute. As Zdenek Grygera whipped in a cross from the right hand side, David Trezeguet ran in front of his marker to power a header past Morgan De Sanctis.

Contini was belatedly booked as he needlessly went in from behind on Diego in first half injury time, but Fabio Grosso's shot from the free kick was ballooned over the bar.

Datolo had an instant impact

Giovinco was nearly played through on goal in the opening minutes of the second half, but Hugo Campagnaro made a superb sliding tackle to avert the danger.

Vesuviani coach Walter Mazzarri was scratching his head on the touchline as his side continued to struggle to break through the Juventus defence, and some shambolic defending led to the hosts' second goal.

In the 54th minute, Trezeguet's cross from the left wing looked harmless enough, but Contini inexplicably headed the ball straight to Sebastian Giovinco, who tucked the ball home with ease.

Mazzarri was called into making a change in order to reverse the tide, and brought on Jesus Datolo for Campagnaro. It paid instant dividends, as Datolo sprinted down the left wing and crossed low into the box for Marek Hamsik to finish from close range.

Juventus rallied, and had the ball in the net moments later but Felipe Melo was correctly flagged offside. Trezeguet was then played through on goal, but the Frenchman couldn't get a shot away before De Sanctis pounced on the ball.

Despite the defensive frailties, Napoli were playing some fluid and incisive football in attack. Amazingly, they found an equaliser in the 64th minute, as Jesus Datolo poked the ball home from close range after Buffon had saved Denis' initial header.

Napoli were going for the three points, and Mazzarri looked to achieve that by bringing on Fabio Quagliarella for the disappointing Denis with 20 minutes remaining. The hosts, on the other hand, suddenly looked nervous and needed someone to grab hold of the game.

Ferrara changed his side's system once again as he brought on Amauri for Poulsen in the 77th minute, but it couldn't stop Napoli from scoring a third a few minutes later. It came from a Juventus corner, with Lavezzi running the length of the pitch to play in Datolo. The substitute sent a cross into the box that could only pick out Tiago, but a weak clearance found an onrushing Hamsik, who struck the ball high into the net to send the visiting fans into raptures.

The home crowd started to voice their discontent as the players' anxiety became increasingly apparent. The hosts were given five minutes of injury time to find an equaliser, but shot themselves in the foot as Amauri was sent off in the 93rd minute. As De Sanctis looked to collect the ball on the floor, Amauri's swinging boot caught the 'keeper in the face, earning him a straight red card. It was the final meaningful act of an action-packed match, but Ferrara will be wondering how his side didn't collect at least a point.

Anthony Wright, Goal.com

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