May 2011
01/05/11 Serie A
1
SSC Napoli
0 Cagliari Calcio
Edinson Cavani (81)
Napoli had some tough choices to make as the needed a win over Cagliari but also had to rest players to have them ready for the return leg against Leverkusen later in the week. That left Cavani and Hamšík on the bench to start the game. Napoli totally dominated the first half but failed to score.
With just 15 minutes to play and still 0-0 Cavani and Hamšík was brought on and it only took Hamšík 6 minutes to find Cavani for the game winner.
Napoli needs 4 points in the last 3 games to guaranties play in the Champions league next season but the brutal schedule continues.
05/05/11 UEFA Europa League
3 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
3
SSC Napoli
Marek Hamšík (4)
Edinson Cavani (61, 79)
Napoli gets off to a flying start in BayArena when Hamšík scores after just 3 minutes. The lead only held for 4 minutes when Leverkusen scored on a fantastic longshot and the two team was back to equal. Leverkusen then takes the lead after 34 minutes after another great long shot but one more goal will still send Napoli to the final. When the Germans went up 3-1 after 58 minutes on a penalty kick it started to look really bad for Napoli. But hope was restored just a few minutes later when Cavani pulled one back. With just 12 minutes left to play Napoli got the break they needed when Cavani got away from the defends and he made no mistakes.
The last 10 minutes is all about Leverkusen when they throw everything forward but the Napoli defends bend but don’t break and after 3 minutes of painful overtime it’s all over.
NAPOLI is in the UEFA Europa League final…..
In the final that is to be played in Aviva Stadium in Dublin on the 18 May Napoli will go up against Man City who beat Porto 2-1. Man City has been a huge disappointment in the English Premier League where they are currently in 9th place.
08/05/11 Serie A
1
SSC Napoli
2 Juventus
Edinson Cavani (14)
Napoli plays with confidence against Juventus and Cavani once again gives them the lead after 14 minutes. Juventus draws back after a corner goal. After the goal Juventus takes control of the game and they take the lead on a huge mistake by keeper Morgan De Sanctis just before the half.
In the second half Juventus continues to dominate and the few chances Napoli creates is taken care of by a brilliant Buffon in the Juve goal and just like that Napoli’s 11 game streak without a loss comes to an end.
With an easy 4-0 home win FC Internazionale Milano secure the 6th national title in a row, with two games left to play in the season. Romas is locked in at second and Napoli has a 3 points advantage in 3rd place.
14/05/11 Serie A
2 AS Roma
0
SSC Napoli
Edinson Cavani (14)
The 250th league appearance for Emílson Cribari was hugely important to Napoli but meaningless to Roma. Still it was Roma who took the lead after just 4 minutes of play. In the 42nd minute Roma had defender Cicinho set off with a direct red card. Napoli took control of the second half but instead of getting a goal they gave up an easy goal after a corner.
Napoli then decided to give up and pulled Cavani and Hamšík and rest the for the Euro League final next week.
18/05/11 UEFA Europa League Final
2 Manchester City
1
SSC Napoli
Paolo Cannavaro (31)
Man City opened the game best and dominated the first half hour of play with several good chances. Still it was Napoli who took the lead after 31 minutes of play when Paolo Cannavaro beat the English defense on a corner and headed in his 8th goal of the season to give Napoli the lead.
In the second half it was more the same and the constant Man City pressure paid of in the 64th minute when Adebayor scored the equalizer. In the 81st minute Cavani had the chance to decide the game when he got a free run at the goal, but for once his lost his cool and City keeper Hart won the duel. And on the very next possession Man City decided the game when Farfàn scored on a curling long shot.
Napoli threw everything but the kitchen sink at Man City in the last 10 minutes without much effect and new Manager Tom Northwood had to see his first chance of a thropyh with Napoli come up just short.
22/05/11 Serie A
1
SSC Napoli
2 Genoa CFC
Edinson Cavani (1)
Michele Pazienza (14)
Christian Maggio (25, 56)
Coming of the major letdown of loosing the UEFA Europa League Final, Napoli had to get back up for the last regular season game of the season that could secure Champions League player next year.
Cavani showed no letdown and scored after just 33 second of play. After 8 minutes Genoa had the chance to draw level but the put the penalty kick went to the side of the net. Michele Pazienza then got his first goal of the season. Christian Maggio then scored from 30yds out and the 45000 Napoli fans could start to celebrate a 3rd place finish in the league.
Maggio adds a second goal in the second half where Napoli just tries to run out the clock.
