And Napoli have done it! Despite owner Aurelio De Laurentiis making a stormy, scooter-centered exit when the fixture list was announced, the partenopei have managed to beat AC Milan in their second match of the season, their first at home at the San Paolo. And this after holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at Eastlands -- impressive work for Napoli. Last year's champions, meanwhile, will be shaking their heads after losing an early lead, ruing Pato's sky-high shots and cursing their injury list, which includes Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Napoli Vs. Milan, 2011 Serie A: Edinson Cavani Hat-Trick Gives Napoli 3-1 Win
It was the visitors that opened the scoring, with Alberto Aquilani scoring his first goal for Milan, a brilliant diving header off an Antonio Cassano cross. The rossoneri barely had time to breathe, however, before Edinson Cavani had equalized fifty seconds later, via a header from Christian Maggio. The Uruguayan nutmegged Milan 'keeper Christian Abbiati in much the same manner that he did Joe Hart earlier in the week.
But that goal wasn’t nearly enough for El Matador, who grabbed his second before the whistle blew for the end of the second half. Midfielder Walter Gargano took the ball from the Napoli area all the way up to the opposing goal before cutting inside. Rather than pass to the center, Gargano smartly went left, to his compatriot Cavani. The forward’s right-footed shot easily sailed past Abbiati.
The third goal from Cavani, coming before the 60th minute, was a perfect example of instinctive football. Milan defender Alessandro Nesta managed to block a cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi, but the ball fell right to Cavani, who simply pulled back his foot and shot hard. A simple goal, and Milan never managed to find their way back.
To be fair to last year's scudetto winners, they certainly stepped up their play in the last 20 minutes or so, but nothing was getting past Morgan De Sanctis and Napoli. Walter Mazzari's inspired late-game substitution, pulling off Andrea Dossena in favor of Juan Zuniga, proved pivotal, as Zuniga executed an aerobatic tackle to deny Pato a goal. Mazzarri looks to be refining his tactics, which can only be beneficial for Napoli as they seek the scudetto.
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