Napoli-Juve Stabia 1-0

For once Napoli played well and thanks to Grava they won the derby against Juve
Stabia. The game started at a snail's pace and with little fervour in the first
half, the usual story of an apologetic Napoli and their opponents closing down
every run in their own penalty area.

In the second half Napoli were inspired, Juve Stabia collapsed after having
missed a certain goal with Castaldo and they were down to 10 men.

Napoli with the advantage went back to being slow like at the beginning of the
match and then nothing else happened. Reja confirmed his 4-2-3-1 formation with
Bogliacino from the outset. The first half elapsed, as said before, in
affectation and tiring ball possession from the Neapolitans, which eventually
built up into a good move broken down in the Stabiese 10 yard box.

In the second half Reja made his decision, he took off Bogliacino and put the
young player Vitale onto the pitch. The “azzurrino/youth player” shook up the
squad and Napoli immediately stepped up a gear.

Nevertheless the Neapolitans ran the risk of losing a goal when Ambrosi slotted
a ball into the penalty area and Castaldo’s shot was miraculously closed down by
Iezzo. No time to even breathe and Capparella broke free in a 100m dash forcing
Avallone to foul him, the obligatory second yellow card sent him off to have an
early shower.

Juve Stabia were complaining since one of their players was on the ground, but
he was already there from before when Castaldo was attempting to score against
the Great Iezzo. Napoli with the numerical advantage were completely regenerated
and irrepressible. Montervino had tried beforehand after the ball had slid to
his foot but Armellini had tipped the ball over the crossbar, then came the
unbridled Vitale’s attempt on goal- a precise cross, which Armellini
instinctively saved with his left foot. Next it was Fontana’s turn to let fly a
superb meteoric strike from 35m that hit off the crossbar.

As destiny would have it, after many good opportunities, the best man on the
pitch was the one to finally score: in the 26th minute the indefatigable Grava
put the ball into the area and after a bad deflection off an opposing defender,
he hit it just right, tucking the ball away into the right-hand corner past
Armellini. From that moment onward Napoli began to backtrack, they retreated
into themselves and Calaio, having tapped the ball in front of Armellini instead
of putting it away securely, failed to put the match beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Even so it did not influence the end result. An important victory for the
Partenopeans.

Translation by Danielle McKinley

Napoli(4-2-3-1): Iezzo; Grava, Romito, Maldonado, Savini; Fontana (46' st
Montesanto), Montervino(C); Capparella (36' st Amodio), Pià, Bogliacino (1' st
Vitale); Calaiò.
(Gianello, Briotti, Giubilato, Grieco).
All. Reja

Juve Stabia(4-4-2): Armellini; Taccucci, Di Napoli (C) (21' st Esposito),
Avallone, Vanacore (41' Ferrigno); Sibilli, Andreulli, Delle Vedove (12' st
Dionisio), Agnelli; Castaldo, Ambrosi.
(Petrazzuolo, Arigò, Scoponi, Molino)
All. Vullo.

Scorer: Grava al 26' st

Arbitro: Salati di Trento (Longhi - Manzini)
Spettatori: 35.000 circa, di cui 5.000 da Castellammare. Falli commessi: 22-26.
Angoli: 6-0.
Ammoniti: Vanacore, Ambrosi, Avallone, Sibilli, Fontana. Espulsi: Avallone
all'8' st per doppia ammonizione.