Gilardino heads Fiorentina past Napoli
Reuters - Saturday 13 March 2010, 22:08
MILAN - Alberto Gilardino boosted
Fiorentina's outside chance of a Europa League qualifying spot
by scoring with two headers in a 3-1 comeback win at faltering
Napoli in Serie A on Saturday.
The Florence club, eliminated from the Champions League at
the last 16 stage by Bayern Munich in midweek, are 10th in the
standings but have moved within five points of sixth spot and a
guaranteed place in the Europa League qualifying round.
Seventh-placed Napoli, five behind Palermo in the fourth
Champions League qualifying spot, took the lead early in the
second half when injury-hit Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi
headed in his first goal at the San Paolo for a year.
Lavezzi then had a strong shout for a penalty turned down
before Gilardino equalised 15 minutes after the break when he
nodded home Stevan Jovetic's cross at the near post.
The Italy striker grabbed his second three minutes from the
end when he flicked in Jovetic's header following a corner and
Jovetic netted the third himself in stoppage time after Napoli
goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis had gone upfield to try to score.
Fiore coach Cesare Prandelli, whose side are in the Italian
Cup semi-finals, has been linked in the media with Juventus or
Italy for next season but he has hinted he would like to stay.
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