Napoli 3-0 Fiorentina
Napoli has been struggling to regain form and may not be expected to qualify into next season’s Champions League, but Europa League instead. Before the match, Napoli has only received one point from their last five matches. Maybe Napoli can create some steam with this impressive win.
Napoli opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute. Dries Martens decided to take a very well placed curling shot in the far corner from the top of the 18-yard box to stun Fiorentina. He made that one look too easy, but the amount of skill required to pull that one off was incredible.
Gonzalo Higuain was stripped of an absolute cracker later in the match as the ball struck the cross-bar and down past the goal-line and back away from the goal. A sight many are accustomed to viewing. The replay showed that the ball did in fact cross the goal line, but the linesman did not see it as a goal.
Fiorentina never looked to be in the match as they turned the ball over countless times.
Napoli’s second goal came from a great chip over the defense from Jose Caellejon to Marek Hamsick, who managed to control and tapped the ball right past the keeper to score. It was a poor effort from the Fiorentina goalkeeper.
Callejon got his goal in the 89th minute to seal the deal. Lorenzo Insigne’s lobbing pass found a wide open Callejon at the back post who put the ball into the net unchallenged and effortlessly. Their was hardly a celebration seen from him, but a well deserved win for the team.
Napoli are seven points behind Roma and just one point ahead of both Fiorentina and Sampdoria. All three teams are strong enough to finish fourth and fifth. The fight for these positions started today and Napoli took an early lead. It will be vital for each club to enter European play for their growth as well as the future of their manager, especially Rafael Benitez who has had a struggling season with a good squad.
Featured Photo Credit: Getty Images
