Late Napoli show stuns Milan as Juve hit five past Samp

AFP - 28 October 2009 23:15

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates at the end of their Serie A football match against Sampdoria at Olympic Stadium in Turin. Juventus won the match 5-1.

ROME (AFP) - Napoli scored two goals in injury time to hold 10-man AC Milan to a draw in Serie A on Wednesday and end the seven-time European champions recent winning run.

Juventus went second in the table as they thrashed high-flying Sampdoria, who drop to third, 5-1 in Turin.

But the real drama came in Naples where late goals from Luca Cigarini and German Denis earned Napoli a richly deserved point after Ignazio Abate was sent off four minutes from time.

Having developed a habit of starting slowly this season, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had promised president, and Italy Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi that they would stop torturing him.

The team seemed to heed the advice and came flying out of the blocks, only to then collapse late on.

After 6min they were already 2-0 ahead as Napoli's defensive line was ruthlessly exposed.

Filippo Inzaghi ran onto Clarence Seedorf's chip over the top on 2min before finishing left footed.

And four minutes later he flicked on a long ball for Alex Pato to run onto from a suspiciously offside-looking position before outstripping the defence and finishing with aplomb.

Thereafter, though, it was all about goalkeeper Dida and some profligate shooting from the hosts, in particular Cristian Maggio who failed to beat a stricken Dida from six yards out early in the second period.

But after Abate earned a second yellow card Napoli finally found the finish they had been lacking as Cigarini lashed home a left-foot volley.

And then deep into injury time Denis headed home a cross from the right to send the San Paolo crowd into delirium.

In Turin Juventus rediscovered their form in a stroll against the only team that stood between them and leaders Inter Milan.

Juve leapfrogged Sampdoria into second and just one point behind Inter, who host Palermo on Thursday, thanks to goals from Amauri (two), Giorgio Chiellini, Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet.

Amauri opened the scoring on 26min when the ball fell kindly to him, after his initial header hit team-mate Momo Sissoko, to shoot home.

He then turned provider on 42min as a marauding Chiellini, up from the back, found himself between Sampdoria's centre-backs when the Brazilian's deflected cross landed at his feet five yards out.

The game was soon over as Diego sent Sebastian Giovinco free down the left and he picked out Camoranesi to side foot home from the penalty spot.

Camoranesi then sent in a delightful curling cross from the right for Amauri to head home his second as Sampdoria crumbled.

Giampaolo Pazzini pulled a goal back for the visitors before French veteran Trezeguet rounded off the scoring late on.

Newly-promoted Parma moved up to fourth, and a Champions League position, as they beat fellow Serie A newboys Bari 2-0.

AS Roma lost for the third game in a row as they fell 2-1 at Udinese in a game in which both teams had a player sent off.

Lowly Livorno won their second match in a row since new coach Serse Cosmi took over as they beat Atalanta 1-0.