Cavani treble strengthens Napoli's title claims
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Article summary
SSC Napoli's title challenge remains on track after Edinson Cavani's hat-trick helped them to a 4-3 win against S.S. Lazio, as Udinese Calcio lost for the first time since December.
Article top media content
Article body
While Internazionale Milano FC's title challenge suffered a setback with their Derby della Madonnina defeat to AC Milan on Saturday, SSC Napoli's was boosted by a dramatic 4-3 triumph against S.S. Lazio.
Not for the first time this season Edinson Cavani was the hero of the San Paolo, scoring a hat-trick to help Napoli leapfrog Inter into second place, three points behind Milan. The Partenopei earned their points the hard way, though, going behind to goals by Stefano Mauri (29) and André Dias (56) before trailing again when Salvatore Aronica's own goal (68) undid the good work of Andrea Dossena (60) and Cavani (62).
Following Giuseppe Biava's dismissal, however, the Uruguay striker equalised again (82) and the comeback was complete when Cavani took his tally for the season to 25 goals in 31 Serie A appearances (88).
Fourth-placed Udinese Calcio remain four points behind Inter following a shock 2-0 defeat at lowly US Lecce. Andrea Bertolacci's double (48, 65) ended the Friulani's 13-match unbeaten sequence and lifted Luigi De Canio's side out of the relegation zone. Juventus, meanwhile, moved to within two points of sixth-placed AS Roma with a 2-0 victory against the Giallorossi.
In the Derby di Sicilia, Calcio Catania humbled US Città di Palermo 4-0, Cagliari Calcio won 1-0 at Genoa CFC, while bottom club AS Bari clinched their fourth league win of the season (2-1) against Parma FC.
