Napoli squeeze past Fiorentina
Jose Callejon’s header was the decisive moment as Napoli beat Fiorentina 1-0 to reach the Coppa Italia semi-final, but both teams ended with 10 men.
The winners will go through to face Juventus or Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final, the only round that is played over two legs.
Leonardo Pavoletti was given his first start in a Napoli jersey, resting Dries Mertens, while Nikola Maksimovic also got a rare outing at the back. The visitors missed Gonzalo Rodriguez and left Borja Valero on the bench.
When these sides met last month in Serie A, it ended in a spectacular 3-3 draw at the Stadio Franchi.
Napoli dominated the early stages, seeing shots and crosses charged down, but Fiorentina were dangerous on the counter and Pepe Reina palmed a Federico Chiesa shot over the bar from a tight angle.
The goalkeeper had to be even more alert with a one-handed reaction save on Davide Astori’s header, then the hosts immediately countered for Pavoletti to blaze over.
Lorenzo Insigne’s free kick at the near post was fingertipped on to the crossbar by Ciprian Tatarusanu, the goalkeeper then having his gloves stung by a Jose Callejon set play. Insigne wasted another promising opportunity by curling off target.
It was more even after the restart, Sebastian Cristoforo’s mis-kick from 12 yards going well wide and Reina rushing out to close down Chiesa after a remarkable slalom through the defence.
Insigne was unlucky again, as another free kick cracked against the crossbar, this time without the aid of Tatarusanu’s fingertips.
Napoli finally found a way through at the end of a long passing move, as Insigne prodded through and Marek Hamsik crossed from the left for Jose Callejon’s header, which bent back Tatarusanu’s hands.
Tatarusanu did better when plucking a dangerous Amadou Diawara looping header out from under the bar, while Insigne almost set up another for Callejon with a magnificent turn to leave Carlos Sanchez chasing shadows, but this time the cross was intercepted.
Fiorentina poured forward and got Elseid Hysaj sent off with a second bookable offence, but the situation got more and more illtempered with Maxi Olivera also given two yellow cards. Both decisions seemed frankly harsh.
With the last kick of the game, Dries Mertens curled wide on the counter set up by Insigne.
Sampdoria: 'Cassano exit for the best'
Antonio Cassano will terminate his Sampdoria contract this week. “It’s a bitter epilogue, but the right thing for both parties.”
The striker has been frozen out all season after refusing a transfer, training with the Primavera youth team and even had his picture removed from the club website.
His contract is due to expire on June 30, but will be terminated on Thursday by mutual consent.
“Cassano’s rescission is a bitter epilogue and his return here could’ve been different, but at the end it’s the right thing for both parties, seeing as their positions are different, but both legitimate,” Samp lawyer Antonio Romei told Primocanale.
FantAntonio had another spell at Sampdoria from 2007 to January 2011, then returned in August 2015, but did not fit into their plans for this season.
Cagliari get Miangue from Inter
Inter defender Senna Miangue will join Cagliari on loan tomorrow, announced the Sardinians.
“I can confirm the all-clear has arrived for Miangue to make the transfer to Cagliari,” director Stefano Capozucca told fcinter1908.it. “Tomorrow the lad will be here with us.”
The 19-year-old centre-back is a Belgium Under-21 international.
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