Napoli keep alive title ambitions
ROME: Last-gasp goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Amadou Diawara kept Napoli’s Serie A title ambitions alive as a dramatic 2-1 win over Chievo on Sunday maintained the pressure on reigning champions Juventus.
Maurizio Sarri’s title-chasers looked destined to remain seven points behind Juventus as they trailed until the 89th minute at their San Paolo stadium.
Polish striker Mariusz Stepinski’s goal on 73 minutes had put the relegation battlers from Verona ahead, with Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino making a string of saves including from a Dries Mertens penalty.
But Milik headed in the equaliser with one minute of normal time to go with Guinean midfielder Diawara grabbing the winner deep into injury time.
“We won a game that we deserved to win,” said Sarri.
“It had seemed cursed, as we had 31 shots on goal, missed a penalty, hit the woodwork. It was one of those classic games where the team does everything right and the ball won’t go in.
“But they kept pushing and the logical conclusion was to win the match.”
Juventus’ 4-2 win over Benevento on Saturday had opened up a seven-point advantage as the Turin giants chase a seventh straight title.
But the gap is now back to four points with just seven games remaining as Napoli continue to push for a first Scudetto since 1990.
Napoli will face Juventus in Turin on April 22.
“I have to thank the fans, because without them, we would not have won the match,” said Sarri.
“When we got the equaliser, the Stadio San Paolo turned into a cauldron and we rode that wave.”