Monday, May 18, 2009

Napoli 1-2 Torino


Torino's Serie A survival bid remains on track but they did things the hard way as they came from behind to win at Napoli.

Second-half goals from Rolando Bianchi and Alessandro Rosina kept the Granata a point clear of the relegation zone.

Inacio Pia had put Napoli ahead three minutes before the break, but the visitors fought back to record two timely firsts for the campaign.

Not only was this their first away win this term, but it was also the first time they have taken all three points after trailing.

The gloss was taken off the win by victories for fellow strugglers Reggina and Bologna - albeit over another side battling the drop in Lecce - but at least Torino know their fate is in their own hands with two matches left to play.

The visitors created the first chance of the game in the 11th minute when Blerim Dzemaili teed up Bianchi, whose 30-yard drive was tipped behind for a corner by Napoli goalkeeper Nicolas Navarro.

The hosts soon found their stride, though, and Navarro's opposite number Matteo Sereni had to be alert to cut out German Denis' centre.

Denis almost got on the end of Jesus Datolo's cross just before the half-hour mark, but Marco Pisano made an important intervention.

Matteo Rubin was then forced to knock the ball behind with Fabiano Santacroce threatening.

A goal was coming and it duly arrived in the 42nd minute as the influential Denis played in Pia, who beat Sereni.

With two sides in the bottom three - Bologna and Lecce - playing each other, Torino knew a defeat would see them slip into the relegation zone.

And within six minutes of the restart they were level.

An error by Paolo Cannavaro was seized upon by Bianchi and the former Manchester City striker levelled the scores.

Torino had a let-off when Riccardo Colombo was slow to react and Pia beat him to the ball only to see his header fly off-target.

In the 55th minute it was Sereni's turn to breathe a sigh of relief as he spilled Daniele Mannini's shot but neither Denis or Datolo could put the ball into the empty goal.

And that miss proved even more costly as the Granata went ahead in the 72nd minute thanks to a superb 30-yard free-kick from Rosina which completely deceived Navarro.

Datolo almost snatched an equaliser three minutes from time when his deflected free-kick was brilliantly kept out by Sereni, but Torino held on for a vital victory.

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