NAPOLI, A BITTERSWEET TIE

Napoli, in front of 40,000 spectators, faced Rimini in the last home game of the
season. Reja arranged the azzurri with a 3-4-1-2 inserting Capparella, Giubilato
and Fontana onto the field from the first minute after a period of stoppage due
to various injuries. Without Sosa and Abate, Napoli looked to score on the trio
formed by Calaiò, Pià e Capparella in order to unhinge the Rimini defense.

In the first half the teams studied each other. Very few emotions; the first
shot on goal of the game arrived at the 32nd minute with a left by Capparella
finishing high. Reaction by Rimini was not anticipated: after 6 minutes, Docente
eluded Scarlato and fired a shot that Gianello succeeded to reject with his
feet. Also Pià at the 39th minute and Muslimovic at the 40th minute made
themselves protagonists of two less-than-accurate shots. At the 43rd minute
Rimini scored to take the lead with a goal by Muslimovic on a good pass by
Docente, who Scarlato failed to contain on the left line.

In the second half Reja inserted Consonni in place of Scarlato, replanning the
tested 4-2-3-1, and the azzurri searched for the way to the goal many times.
Napoli's tying goal arrived at the 16th minute: a cross by Consonni from the
right and a header by Pià that beat Dei. Napoli was also left with 10 men due to
the expulsion of Calaiò for behavior unbecoming a player.

This was a bittersweet tie that serves little to Napoli, who played only partly,
and to Rimini who defers the celebration of promotion for a week. In the last
match of the season the azzurri will face Giulianova on the road.

di Antonio Petrazzuolo

translated by Louis Chirillo


NAPOLI: Gianello, Grava, Giubilato, Montervino, Scarlato (1’st Consonni),
Ignoffo, Fontana (41’st Corrent), Mora, Calaiò, Capparella (16’st Bonomi), Pià.
A disp.: Renard, Romito, Schettino, Schettino, Gatti. All.: Reja

RIMINI: Dei, Mastronicola, Bravo (32’st Di Loreto), D’Angelo, Russo (24’st
Caracciolo), Milone, Baccin, Tasso, Docente(16’st Trotta), Ricchiuti,
Muslimovic. A disp.: Pugliesi, Federici, Righetti, Di Fiordo. All.: Acori

ARBITRO: Orsato di Schio
RETI: 44’ pt Muslimovic (R), 19’st Pià
NOTE: espulso al 36’st Calaiò (N) per fallo di reazione. Ammoniti :
Mastronicola, Muslimovic, Bravo, Consonni.
Calci d’angolo 10-1 per il
Spettatori 40mila circa