Thursday, September 5, 2013

Napoli outlasts Chievo as Marec Hamsik scores a double 4-2

Gonzalo Higuain scores for his new team. '

Hamsik                                                         13’
Paloschi                                                         24’
Callejon                                                        28’
Paloschi                                                         40'
Higuain                                                         52’

Hamsik                                                         64’

Napoli came out victorious after an explosive game with Chievo Verona.  Marec Hamsik scored a double which put the game away the 64th minute.  The scoring opened in the 13th minute as Lorenzo Insigne found Hamsik open to his right.  Hamsik fired a long shot that hit the back of the net after Christian Puggoni diving save failed to reach the ball.  Chievo however answered the scoring in the 24th minute as Alberto Paloschi scored past goalkeeper Pepe Reina from a cross by Perparim Hatemaj. 

Four minutes later, former Real Madrid forward Jose Callejon scores after receiving a cross from Real Madrid teammate Gonzalo Higuain to momentarily restore Napoli's lead.  In the 40th minute however, Alberto Paloschi scored his second goal with a brilliant display of persistence. Ivan Radovanovich received the ball after a corner kick and passed the ball to the middle.  Gennaro Sardo's header bounced high up in the air but he beat the Napoli defenders with his backflip which found Alberto Paloschi.  Paloschi went around Valon Bahrami's defense and scored a close range shot past Pepe Reina to end the half with a 2-2 score. 

The same explosive game ushered the second half but Napoli showed a better play.  Gokhan Inler almost padded Napoli's lead with his on target attempt only to be deflected by Paul Papp at 52nd mark.  Napoli however cannot be denied later. The play began with Higuain passing the ball to Callejon on the left. Callejon finds Gokhan Inler inside the box who then fired a cross to Hamsik.  Perparim Hatemaj temporarily derailed Napoli's goal with a sliding defensive tackle that almost become an own goal which was deflected by Christian Puggioni. Hamsik however was gifted with the lucky bounce as he trashed the net and put Napoli ahead once again.  

 Napoli is poised to add another goal with a Juan Zuñiga's strike which missed the goal by inches in the 68th minute. Two minutes later Napoli's persistence and superior creativity paid off as former Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain scored the fourth goal for Napoli after an exchange with Lorenzo Insigne.  Chievo made its last ditch effort to finish better with Boado Acousty's close range attempt at 88th minute but which was saved by Reina.