Napoli wreck Udinese's unbeaten record
Reuters - Wednesday 26 October 2011, 21:52
Udinese's unbeaten start to the
Serie A season came to an end on Wednesday when they slumped to
a 2-0 defeat at Napoli.
First-half goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Christian Maggio
sunk Udinese who went into the midweek games top but are now in
second place. They are one point behind undefeated leaders
Juventus, 2-1 winners at home to Fiorentina on Tuesday.
Third-placed Lazio, on the same total of 15 points as
Udinese, missed the chance to climb to the summit when they were
held to a 1-1 home draw by Catania after Miroslav Klose had put
the hosts ahead in the 17th minute.
Midfielder Antonio Nocerino scored a hat-trick in AC Milan's
4-1 win over Parma, the second time in four days the defending
champions scored four goals, while struggling Inter Milan drew
1-1 at Atalanta.
Milan are fifth, equal on 14 points with Napoli.
Napoli have been spectacularly erratic this season, enjoying
convincing wins against Milan and Inter and losing at home to
lowly Parma.
Udinese, missing top-scorer Antonio Di Natale through
injury, were unlucky to face Walter Mazzarri's team on one of
their good days and were on the back foot from the start.
Marek Hamsik had a goal disallowed in the 16th minute but
Napoli only had to wait another four minutes to take the lead.
Edinson Cavani flicked the ball over Lazio's back line and
found Lavezzi, who brilliantly hooked the ball into the net on
the turn.
Napoli created further chances although Udinese, who went
top on Sunday, were unlucky not to equalise when Morgan de
Sanctis made outstanding saves to turn away two goalbound shots.
FAR POST
The home side wrapped the game up before half-time when
Blerim Dzemaili's cross was headed in by Maggio at the far post.
Lazio appeared set to go top with a fourth straight win when
Klose struck early but they then gifted Catania an equaliser, a
defensive blunder allowing Argentine Gonzalo Bergessio to level
in the 63rd minute.
Milan, who had to come from three goals behind to beat Lecce
4-3 on Sunday, made life much easier for themselves against
Parma.
Nocerino turned in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cross on the half-hour and fired a second goal from outside the area two minutes
later to put them in command.
Kevin-Prince Boateng grabbed a hat-trick against Lecce and
Nocerino emulated him with an injury-time header.
Ibrahimovic was also on target while Sebastian Giovinco
replied for Parma.
Dutchman Wesley Sneijder gave Inter the lead at promoted
Atalanta after 32 minutes but Argentine German Denis equalised a
minute before halftime.
Denis then missed a penalty in the closing stages.
Inter are 16th on eight points, one point behind Atalanta
who had six points deducted over their involvement in a
match-fixing scandal in Serie B last season.
AS Roma are eighth with 11 points after they lost 2-1 at
Genoa.
Juraj Kucka scored the home team's winner in the 89th
minute, after Fabio Borini had put Roma on level terms following
Bosko Jankovic's first-half opener for Genoa.