Napoli 2 : 1 Cagliari - Napoli flying high after Cagliari win

Posted Sunday, March 20, 2011 by PA

Napoli threw their hat into the ring for the Serie A title with a 2-1 victory over Cagliari which took them to within three points of the summit.

Edinson Cavani put Napoli ahead with a penalty early in the second half, but Robert Acquafresca equalised soon afterwards.

Cavani's second sealed the win as the fans in the Stadio San Paolo started dreaming about the Scudetto with just three points now separating Napoli from league leaders AC Milan, who play second-placed Inter Milan in the next round of Serie A matches.

Acquafresca had the chance to put Cagliari ahead after 15 minutes when he raced away from Fabio Santacroce, but he shot wide of the near post as the Napoli defender started to make up ground and put him under pressure.

Napoli's first chance of the match fell to Ezequiel Lavezzi after half an hour, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal after Cavani headed the ball down for him.

The home side took the lead four minutes into the second half when Ariaudo fouled Lavezzi inside the penalty area.

Cavani stepped up to place his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, sending Michael Agazzi the wrong way.

Marek Hamsik nearly made it two a minute later, but his powerful shot struck Ariaudo on his head and Hassan Yebda's follow-up was also blocked.

Cagliari stunned the home fans in the 56th minute by bringing Cagliari level.

He beat Paolo Cannavaro to the ball and then slotted an angled shot through the legs of Morgan De Sanctis.

But Napoli regained the lead five minutes later when Hamsik lifted the ball over to Cavani, who lobbed Agazzi from the edge of the area for his 22nd goal of the season.

Hamsik fired a shot into the side-netting and Giuseppe Mascara hit the outside of the post with a header as Napoli looked to wrap up the win, but no further goals were needed to secure the points to take Napoli back into the race for the Scudetto.