Napoli did not repeat the amazing performance they put on against Parma, they
exited defeated against a very formidable Torino. The line-ups had been
confirmed for both parties the day before. 
 
Napoli without centre-forwards, with only Bogliacino sitting behind Lavezzi as
we’ve seen in the last two matches. Reja’s team played openly, working the
midfield but ultimately all bark and no bite. Torino sidestepped the assault and
looked to Stellone to feed Rosina and Di Michele on the left.
 
In the 8th Bogliacino troubled Sereni with a brilliant right footed shot. It was
obvious that Torino’s formation troubled the partenopei from that moment
onwards and it was only Torino who threatened a goal.  In the 19th min. Di
Michele set up Diana but Navarro did well to block. 
 
In the 24th min. a lovely ball in the air from Stellone to Di Michele which
landed in the area resulted in a non-existent penalty. It was Rosina who scored
from the spot to take the advantage in the 27th min sending the Argentinian
keeper the wrong way. Three minutes later Torino could have finished the tie
with Di Michele who wasted an excellent cross from Corini which went behind.
Some of the partenopean players were less than dazzling whilst on the front line
a man of Sosa’s presence was heavily missed.
 
The last attack of any note was in the 33rd min. with a long distance shot Paolo
Zanetti went over the cross-bar.
 
In the 2nd half Reja’s team seemed more determined and Lavezzi immediately had
a go with a shot aimed at the top left hand corner that finished out of play. In
the 53rd the azzurri managed to level thanks to the spoils from a free-kick from
a fray with Contini and led to his first goal in a blue shirt. The level score
was fleeting as the 56th min saw Stellone feed Di Michele who only had Navarro
to beat and for the Ex-Palermo striker, it was easy. The Azzurri’s response
came from Hamsik, as usual, who brushed the post with a right footed shot from
outside the area.
 
Napoli were on the ropes and the Granata wasted 2 great chances in as many
minutes with only Di Michele and Stellone left on Navarro. The Friulian coach
put on Calaiò to provide more firing power up front, but the azzurri were not
pushing up the wings and the only dangers raining down on Sereni’s goalmouth
came from Lavezzi’s solitary bursts, the one familiar sight in an unfamiliar
set-up.
 
In the 82' the azzurri had their last chance to equalize with Calaiò, but the
Sicilian’s crisp header ended up a little too high.  
Torino: Sereni, Motta, Lanna, Di Loreto, Pisano, Corini, Diana (27' st
Recoba), Rosina (32' st Franceschini), Zanetti (8' st Grella), Di Michele,
Stellone. A disp. Fontana, Lazetic, Barone, Ventola. All. De Biasi

Napoli: Navarro, Santacroce, Contini, Cupi (20' st Garics), Mannini (36' st
Capparella), Blasi, Gargano, Hamsik, Domizzi, Bogliacino (17' st Calaiò),
Lavezzi. A disp. Iezzo, Grava, Montervino, Pazienza. All. Reja

Arbitro: De Marco di Chiavari
Marcatore: 21' pt Rosina rig. (T), 8' st Contini (N), 11' st Di Michele (T)
Note: ammoniti Domizzi, Hamsik, Blasi, Corini, Sereni, Stellone, Santacroce.
Recuperi 1+5.

Director General Pierpaolo Marino: “We deserved a point and played well. We
were not fortunate against Torino this season, as in two meetings they have
received two non-existent penalties.”



Tante idee per la salvaguardia del nostro Pianeta su Yahoo! For Good
http://it.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html