NAPLES - In the San Paolo cauldron, the Coppa
Italia 2010/11 quarter-final between Napoli and Inter ended 4-5 after
a penalty shoot-out, in what was a pulsating encounter despite the
lack of goals over the 120 minutes. The Nerazzurri converted all five
of their spot-kicks with Chivu scoring the winner after Lavezzi had
previously missed his.
It was an exciting match right from the start with
Mazzarri's team making some lightning breaks. And it was at the end
of one such counter-attack in the 13th minute that Cavani hit the
back of the net as he turned in Dossena's cross, but the goal was
rightly ruled out for offside. The first half ended 0-0 although
Chivu wasted a great opportunity on 37 minutes when presented with a
free header, and Cambiasso went even closer three minutes later, his
powerful volley pushed miraculously onto the bar by De Sanctis.
The second half was more of a tactical affair, with
fewer clear-cut chances until Napoli very nearly found a winner in
the 84th minute. Lavezzi bombed down the left wing and crossed into
the box for Hamsik, whose shot was blocked by Castellazzi's feet;
Hamsik got on the rebound and headed past Castellazzi only to
find Ranocchia on the line - a splendid interception by the Inter
defender. The second half also finished goalless so the tie went to
extra time.
Castellazzi kept Inter in the game in the first half
of extra time, twice denying Napoli with crucial saves. The Neapolitans could
smell blood and went looking for the kill, with Lavezzi and Cavani
leading the hunt, but Inter managed to hold on and take the game to
penalties.
The Nerazzurri converted all five of their spot-kicks
to emerge as 4-5 victors from the shoot-out: Lavezzi's miss proved
decisive and Chivu sealed Inter's passage into the semi-finals in
April, when they will go head-to-head with the winners of Thursday's
game between Juventus and Roma.
FIRST HALF - Leonardo opted for a central defensive paring of Cordoba and Ranocchia, with Maicon and Chivu completing the back four in front of Castellazzi. Zanetti, Cambiasso and Thiago Motta started in midfield with Stankovic in the hole behind Eto'o and Pandev. Ranocchia for Lucio was thus the only change from the eleven that started in Udine, while Mazzarri fielded the same team as the one he sent out at the Meazza on 6 January.
The two teams weighed each other up for a short while before Napoli created the first real chance after 13 minutes when they hit Inter with a lightning break: Lavezzi began the move and fed Dossena wide on the left, whose low cross was met in the centre and tucked away by Cavani. The Neapolitans' celebrations were short-lived, however, as the referee rightly ruled the goal out for offside. Three minutes later and Inter had a chance of their own, Stankovic hitting an angled right-footed drive wide of target. The Serbian and Cambiasso were constantly looking to make forward runs and link up with Pandev, who was spearheading the team, but Napoli were good at denying them space. On the half-hour mark Inter caught the home side out and Pandev was almost through on goal, De Sanctis forced to come racing out of his area to head the ball clear. Two minutes later Dossena put in a cross from the left for Cavani but the ball ran away from the Uruguayan and Castellazzi mopped up. In the 36th minute Stankovic found space to strike a shot that took a deflection on the way and ended up in De Sanctis' arms. A minute passed and from Eto'o's corner Chivu missed a great chance to put Inter in front when he failed to connect properly with an unmarked header. Immediately afterwards Napoli sprang another counter-attack: Cavani's useful ball found Lavezzi, whose shot was dealt with by Castellazzi. On 40 minutes Inter had their best opportunity of the game - and a spectacular one it was too. Unfortunately De Sanctis made a wonderful reflex save to push Cambiasso's flying volley onto the bar, following an inch-perfect cross from the right by Maicon, the Brazilian having been set away in space by Thiago Motta. There was no added time so after 45 minutes the whistle called an end to a lively, albeit goalless, first half.
SECOND HALF - The second half got underway with no changes and an early opportunity for Gargano, whose strike from outside the box sailed over the bar. In the 48th minute Eto'o beat Pazienza with a classy turn and tried a 30-yard shot; his effort went wide of goal. On the hour Cordoba was well placed to cut out Lavezzi, while three minutes later Leonardo was forced to take off the impressive Stankovic (muscle problem), with Mariga brought on to replace him. After 72 minutes Cordoba and Maggio collided as they ran for a ball on the edge of the box: Napoli's calls for retribution for the Colombian defender went unheard by the referee. In the 76th minute the ball was played back into the box following a cleared Nerazzurri corner; Ranocchia collected it in a decent position but was wrongly adjudged to be offside. A minute passed and down the other end Castellazzi was grateful to receive the ball as Cannavaro chested goalwards from just two yards out. Napoli soon had another opportunity through Cavani's header but the Inter keeper was again a match to it. With six minutes of normal time remaining Mazzarri's side went very close indeed to breaking the deadlock: Lavezzi's cross following his run down the left was picked up Hamsik, whose shot was beaten away by Castellazzi's feet. The rebound fell to the Slovakian once more - his header sailing beyond Castellazzi this time - but Ranocchia was well placed on the line to deny him. With a minute to go Inter breathed another sigh of relief as Pazienza's header from Lavezzi's corner went inches wide. After three minutes of stoppage time the 90 minutes ended 0-0 and extra time beckoned.
EXTRA TIME - Napoli began extra time by piling on the pressure. Castellazzi and then Ranocchia had to be alert to prevent the South-American duo of Cavani and Lavezzi after just two minutes. In the 94th minute Lucio deflected Campagnaro's shot behind for a corner with his shoulder and Napoli claimed a penalty - appeals rightly waved away by the referee. Castellazzi then pulled off another save from Lavezzi when the Argentinian was set up by Maggio on 101 minutes. After another 15 minutes of goalless action the game went into the final period. In the 107th minute Cavani flopped to the ground in the box after minimal contact with Thiago Motta, but there was no foul by the Nerazzurri midfielder. Pandev, set up by Eto'o, put an effort just wide after 113 minutes, and three minutes later Lavezzi's half-volley brought another gasp from the crowd but flew over the bar. There was still time for Castellazzi to make another stop from Cavani before the final whistle signalled the penalty shoot-out from which the Nerazzurri would emerge victorious.
PENALTIES - Cavani (scored 1-0), Eto'o (scored 1-1), Hamsik (scored 2-1), Cambiasso (scored 2-2), Lavezzi (missed 2-2), Pandev (scored 2-3), Zuniga (scored 3-3), Motta (scored 3-4), Yebda (scored 4-4), Chivu (scored 4-5).
Napoli 0-0 Inter aet (4-5 on penalties)
Napoli: 26 De Sanctis; 14 Campagnaro, 28 P. Cannavaro, 6 Aronica; 11 Maggio, 5 Pazienza (Yebda 98), 23 Gargano, 8 Dossena (Zuniga 70); 17 Hamsik, 22 Lavezzi; 7 Cavani
Unused subs: 33 Gianello, 13 Santacroce, 25 Cribari, 77 Sosa, 99 Lucarelli
Coach: Walter Mazzarri
Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba (Lucio 83), 15 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 8 Thiago Motta; 5 Stankovic (Mariga 63); 9 Eto'o, 27 Pandev
Unused subs: 21 Orlandoni, 20 Obi, 23 Materazzi, 29 Coutinho, 39 Santon
Coach: Leonardo
Referee: Paolo Valeri (Roma 2)
Booked: P. Cannavaro 26, Thiago Motta 46, Cavani 97, Lucio 121.
Added time: 0+3 minutes
starting lineups
| De Sanctis |
12 Castellazzi |
| Campagnaro |
13 Maicon |
| Cannavaro |
2 Cordoba |
| Aronica |
15 Ranocchia |
| Maggio |
26 Chivu |
| Pazienza |
4 Zanetti |
| Gargano |
19 Cambiasso |
| Dossena |
8 Motta |
| Hamsik |
5 Stankovic |
| Lavezzi |
9 Eto'o |
| Cavani |
27 Pandev |
substitutes
| Giannello |
21 Orlandoni |
| Santacroce |
6 Lucio |
| Zuniga |
17 Mariga |
| Yebda |
20 Obi |
| Cribari |
23 Materazzi |
| Sosa |
29 Coutinho |
| Lucarelli |
39 Santon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|