Napoli 3- Milan 1: Game Review

By: fortunato | May 11th, 2008

In yet another example of playing the “big boys” tough in the 2007/2008 Serie A season, the Partenopei pulled out an outstanding performance against the big rosso-nero machine and in doing so dealt a crushing blow to Milan’s hopes of a 2008/2009 Champions League qualification spot. The Azzurri were powered by goals from Marek Hamsik, Maurizio Domizzi and Gyorgy Garics plus backstopped by a great netminding performance by Nicolas Navarro as our boys made the season’s home finale and Pampa Sosa’s final home appearance, a game to remember.

With the victory, Napoli moved ahead of Genoa into sole possession of eighth place with 50 points, sitting 7 back of Udinese (the final UEFA Cup spot). Milan’s loss was doubly difficult given Fiorentina’s comeback win against Parma and as such allowed the Viola to leapfrog over Milan into sole possession of fourth place with 63 points, while Milan remained at 61 points. Milan now must win next week versus Parma and while getting serious help from Torino (who are officially safe from relegation) to either tie or beat Fiorentina to qualify for the Champions League.

The game was played in front of 65,000 fans and from all accounts the Stadio San Paolo was filled with crazed lunatic fans making the backdrop a little intimidating for their opponents. The fans were pumped given the final game but also to see Pampa one last time.

Napoli came out and made a statement from the get go. They were out to win this as an aggressive and confident team emerged from the dressing room, controlling the play and it appeared to me that even within the first ten minutes or so, had Milan on its heels with their attacking style and overall confidence.

The first real good opportunity occurred in the 11th minute when Pippo Inzaghi took a nice pass from the backline but his left footed shot was nicely handled by Navarro. In a great play, Navarro got up and kicked a ball beyond midfield that reached a streaking Lavezzi who fought off Alessandro Nesta for a quality chance against Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac but Nesta and Kalac both played the angle well forcing Lavezzi to shoot wide.

In the 15th minute, a Lavezzi shot rebounded off of a Milan defender right into the path of Sosa, whose left footed shot went wide.

Hamsik opened the scoring eight minutes before half-time with a great rush, using a streaking Lavezzi to his left and a chugging Sosa to his right as a decoys, firing a beautiful shot past Kalac. Kalac appeared as if he and his defenders were expecting a pass but instead got a shot. This goal is reminiscent of Hamsik’s goal against Sampdoria in September. Great goal, great play. Napoli up 1-0.

Milan created a few chances before the half but Navarro had the answers to all attacks (particularly off of shots by Reno Gattuso and Ricky Kaka).

In the second half, Milan came out firing, particularly Kaka, who missed a wonderful opportunity to tie the match in the 7th minute when Ricky took a nice touch pass from Inzaghi and streaked in on Navarro but his right footed shot was shot far wide of the top-right corner of the net.

Milan would pay for this missed opportunity in the 22nd minute when Lavezzi was taken down in the penalty area by Nesta and Domizzi buried the penalty and Napoli was up 2-0. What a shot by Domizzi!! No one would’ve been able to stop this shot.

Milan continued to press and in the 36th minute striker Alexandre Pato missed a glorious opportunity off of a wonderful touch pass from Kaka, but his shot was way high and way wide.

Napoli also had their missed opportunities after both Bogliacino and Hamsik hit posts in stoppage time before Garics – having only entered the fray in the 79th minute – heaped further humiliation on Milan with a cool finish.

Milan’s Clarence Seedorf put the visitors on the scoresheet at least with a last-gasp free-kick, but by then their Champions League hopes were already fading fast.

Milan held the ball possession stats 60.6% and in territorial advantage 54.7% but I felt that Navarro looked better than Kalac and Napoli made better on their opportunities. Napoli did have more shots towards the goal (14 to 10) and more corners (6 to 5).

This was great performance by our boys in really a nothing game, but you can bet that they may have very well disqualified Milan from a CL spot. The rossoneri will be seeking revenge the next time we play but it does feel good as a tifoso napoletano to beat the reigning UEFA European Champions with the 5-2 thrashing we took in January at the San Siro foremost in mind.

The Partenopei finish off the schedule next Sunday with a game at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio.
One last thing, given that we have had to watch highlights from that horrible 5-2 game from January time and time again, since it was Pato’s debut, here is another fond memory of mine from the Fall 1988. I believe Milan did end up winning the Scudetto that year but anyways, this is a sweet memory. Do you see any similarities with today’s game?