Salernitana, coached by Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, prevented Napoli’s title celebration this Sunday by drawing 1-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, in a match for the 32nd round of the Italian football championship.
After Lazio’s 3-1 defeat at Inter Milan in the first game of the day, the Neapolitans ‘dressed up’ to celebrate their third title, following the team’s ‘double’ led by Maradona in 1986/87 and 1989/90, but they missed the mark.
Uruguayan Mathías Oliveira also put the hosts ahead, in the 62nd minute, with a header in response to a corner scored on the right by Raspadori, driving the mythical São Paulo, now renamed Diego Armando Maradona, mad.
But in the 84th minute, Senegal’s Boulaye Die sealed the equalizer, with a well-placed shot, after a brilliant individual move, in what was a huge ‘bucket of ice water’ for the Napoli fans, who completely filled the stadium.
In the last part, the home side, more in ‘desperation’, still tried everything to achieve the winning goal, but failed, with Salernitana sensationally adding the ninth consecutive game (two wins and seven draws).
Paulo Sousa was no longer watching the closing minutes from the bench as he saw the red card at 90+2, apparently due to protests against the refereeing team.
In the standings, Napoli now has 79 points, against 61 for Lazio, which can still lose second place in the league today to Juventus, third, who have 59 and will play in the stronghold of Bologna from 7:45 p.m.
If the ‘old lady’ wins, Napoli must take the title in the next round, Thursday in Udine, and if that fails, equality will be enough for the Neapolitans.
In fourth place is Inter Milan, ‘executioner’ of FC Porto (four-finals) and Benfica (quarter-finals) in the Champions League, after today’s turnaround in reception to Lazio.
The outsiders took the lead with a goal from Brazil’s Felipe Anderson in the 30th minute, but a ‘double’ from Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez, in the 78th and 90th minutes, in the closing stages, and a goal from Germany’s Robin Gosens, in the final minutes. 83rd minute, ensured the victory for the ‘internazionale’.
With this result, Inter equaled the 57 points of AC Milan (fifth) and Roma (Friday), who drew 1-1 in the transalpine capital on Saturday, with two goals in extra time.
In the other matches already played today, Sassuolo won 2-1 at home against Empoli, in a comeback sealed by a late ‘double’ from Domenico Berardi, and Cremonese drew 1-1 against Verona.
Source: DN
