Napoli-Torino review

By: Joe | December 26th, 2007

The following match report was written by David D’Antonio from ClubNapoli.it. You can get email updates of Napoli news in English by subscribing to their Yahoo! group at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/cni-english/.

Napoli goes into the Christmas break on the back of an exciting but very controversial match against Torino at home. Napoli conceded a penalty that never was and saw one in their favor missed by their gladatorial defender Maurizio Domizzi. To top off the bizarre evening, Emmanuele Caliao, the old fan favorite, clanged the post with a header deep into stoppage time that would have given Napoli their deserved victory.

The game began tense and fast, an exchange between Marcelo Zalayeta and Walter Gargano led to Zalagol’s shot being cleared by the feet of Torino keeper Matteo Sereni. It wasn’t long afterward that Napoli was trailing. Domizzi reached a high cross with his foot that the ref in some manner perceived to be handball. It was completely unfair but Alessandro Rosina stepped up and converted.

In the 43rd minute Napoli got a lifeline when Australian Vincenzo Grella was given a second yellow for a foul on fellow midfield destroyer Manuele Blasi. Torino had ten men and Napoli had the ascendancy.

In the second half the real drama began. Marek Hamsik came in for Mirko Savini. Almost immediately Zalayeta was brought down in the box by Sereni. (The PK was the second crucial mistake for 35-year old arbiter Matteo Trefoloni as replays showed Zalayeta dived and has subsequently been handed a two-match ban). Penalty for Napoli ! Up stepped Domizzi and Sereni saved the attempt (his third save out of five pk attempts). The crowd was at fever pitch now.

Napoli fought on, first Hamsik and then Mariano Bogliacino came close. Roberto Sosa and Calaio came in for Bogliacino and Ezequiel Lavezzi respectively. An inspired sub, as Sosa combined with Hamsik, for the Slovak to beat the keeper with a classy left foot finish. The score was level at one apiece and ended with Calaio nearly becoming the hero but for the post.

So another year is over, Napoli won promotion and is at the business end of the table in Serie A. 2007 will live long in the modern history of Napoli as a great year, after so many years of suffering no team I can think of could deserve it more! So cheers to De Laurentiis, Marino, Reja, the players and the fans on a job well done.

Translation by David D’Antonio

I’ll be back tomorrow with a review of the first half of the season. We’ll take a look at the Napoli team by position: GK, DF, Wingers, MF, Forwards. Buon Natale a tutti!