subject: Italian Serie A- Napoli Fight Back, Take Down Juventus 3-2 [print this page] With a brilliant performance by midfielder Jess Dtolo, Napoli overcame a two-point deficit to win an impressive 3-2 match against Juventus. The match opened the eleventh round of the Italian Serie A this past Saturday. Just a week earlier, Napoli had accomplished a similar feat, losing 2-0 to AC Miln, but the Azurri came back to tie the game with a pair of goals in injury time.
With the victory, Napoli is in 6th place of the standings, while Juventus in second place has dropped to 7 points below points leader Inter Milan.
Juventus, at home in the Turin Stadium, began the game in control of the action. Sebastian Giovinco and Mauro Camoranesi, the stars of the game, made their presence painfully obvious to Napoli. Napoli tried to link up the game, creating chances using Denis and Aronica, all at close range. However, Juve went ahead with a header from French striker David Trezeguet at minute 35 to put the score at 1-0.
The goal motivated Juve, who increased their attacks, but the team couldn't score. Napoli was, at the same time, trying to improve offense, but Juve's defense was too effective. The first half ended 1-0, in favor of Juve.
The Azurri entered the second half hungry, and at minute 54, Juve midfielder Giovinco added the second goal after an inexplicable mistake by Napoli defender Matteo Contini, putting the score at 2-0. However, five minutes later, Napoli's nightmare ended with the entry of the Argentine, Jess Dtolo, who assisted a low cross pass to Slovak Markek Hamsik, who was able to cut the score to 2-1.
Five minutes later, in minute 64, Dtolo was the author of another equalizer. The Argentine scored after catching a rebound at the far post and pushing the ball into the net, tying the game at 2-2.
But Dtolo's participation did not end there. The former Boca Juniors player assisted to Hamsik, whose goal left the final tally at 3-2 with eight minutes left to play.
Denis also made a notable addition to the game for Napoli. The German played a strong game and only missed to add a goal. Ezequiel Lavezzi, always quick and effective, added a strong rhythm to the match, although in the end it was Dtolo's entrance that changed the countenance of the match.
At the end of the match, the Brazilian striker Amauri was expelled for punching Napoli's goalkeeper after trying to snatch the ball. This last episode marked the end of the match, 3-2, in favor of Napoli.
Juve's loss cleared the way for points leader Inter Milan to stretch the lead.
At the end of the game, Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri said that, despite being down in the scoring in the first half, he still had faith in his game plan and in his team.
"At 2-0 down we had to score as soon as possible. We kept believing and kept playing and didn't panic," stated Coach Mazzarri. "At halftime we were only 1-0 down, and I told them to keep playing the way we were as we had three good chances to score in the first half."
The teams will next compete in the Serie A on Saturday, November 7th, when Napoli will face Catania and Juventus, Atalanta.
