Insigne brace inspires Napoli to Coppa Italia glory
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, May 4, 2014
|
|
|
Insigne strikes twice as Napoli regain Coppa Italia. |
Ten-man Napoli won the Coppa Italia with a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday in a scintillating final which was delayed for 45 minutes by crowd disturbances.
Napoli went 2-0 ahead in the first 20 minutes thanks to a brace from inspired Lorenzo Insigne, before Juan Vargas' goal put the Violas back into the game.
Dries Mertens wrapped up the game with a goal in the stoppage time.
Napoli were reduced to ten men after Gokhan Inler was given his marching orders, but managed to win their fifth Coppa Italia.
The game was kicked off 45 minutes late than scheduled after the supporters protested after hearing a Napoli fan had been seriously hurt outside the stadium.
Napoli captain Marek Hamsik came up to speak to the fans and calmed them down, making it possible for the game to begin.
Napoli raced ahead in the 11th minute as Hamsik threated a perfectly-weighted ball into the path of Insigne who curled a right-footed shot into the far corner.
Insigne doubled Napoli's lead in the 17th minute when Higuain pulled the ball across goal, aiming for Hamsik but instead finding Insigne, whose shot was deflected past Neto off Nenad Tomovic.
Vargas pulled one goal back for Fiorentina in the 28 mintue. He lashed a powerful left-footed volley past Jose Reina after the ball looped over the Napoli defence.
Giuseppe Rossi came on in the 72nd minute to end his five-month injury absence just over a month before the start of the World Cup.
Fiorentina stepped up their attack after Inler received his second yellow card in the 79th minute, leaving the Azzurri with just 10 men.
Josip Ilicic wasted the best chance to equalize five minutes from time after being put through by Alessandro Matri as he placed his shot beyond the far post.
Napoli then broke with Jose Callejon threading a pass through to Mertens, who clinched the Coppa Italia for Napoli by picking his spot in the far corner of the goal.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)