Napoli and Lazio leave it late
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Article summary
Last-gasp victories for SSC Napoli and S.S. Lazio reduced AC Milan's lead to three points in Italy's last round of league matches in 2010, while Juventus were stunned by a late leveller.
Article top media content
Article body
It will be a merry Christmas for SSC Napoli and S.S. Lazio, who whittled AC Milan's Serie A lead down to three points after narrow wins, but Juventus slipped to fourth after drawing 1-1 in Verona.
Following the Rossoneri's home reverse to AS Roma on Saturday, Napoli took full advantage against US Lecce. Edinson Cavani repeated his UEFA Europa League Matchday 6 feat by scoring an added-time winner. The 1-0 win lifted the Partenopei into second place, level on points with Lazio, who defeated Udinese Calcio earlier in the day.
In a five-goal thriller in Rome, the Biancocelesti twice took the lead with goals from Hernanes (2) and Giuseppe Biava (52), only for Udinese to level through Alexis Sánchez (49) and Germán Denis (61). However, Cristián Zapata's late own goal gifted the hosts all three points. Juventus, meanwhile, slipped two points back after Sergio Pellissier (90+3) cancelled out Fabio Quagliarella's overhead kick (31) to deny La Vecchia Signora, who had Manuel Giandonato sent off, victory.
Elsewhere, US Città di Palermo were held to a 1-1 draw at ten-man AS Bari, Bologna FC drew 0-0 at Parma FC, Calcio Catania beat Brescia Calcio 1-0 and UC Sampdoria versus Genoa CFC was postponed due to snow.
