Lazio opened up a huge gap on their rivals for the third and final Champions League spot in the Serie A with an emphatic 3-1 win over an odd-looking Napoli side. The hosts got off to a strong start when Morgan de Sanctis failed to get behind a shot from Antonio Candreva and although Napoli, who were playing an unfamiliar 4-2-3-1 that clearly had their players confused, got back into the match and eventually equalised via Goran Pandev, Lazio eventually went back ahead and then killed things off in the second half.
Lazio Vs. Napoli, 2012 Serie A: Final Score 3-1 Lazio As Hosts Land Knockout Blow
The winner was an absolutely spectacular bicycle kick from Stefano Mauri, who met Stefan Rado's 69th minute cross with a rocket that gave de Sanctis no chance, and Napoli sealed their own fate after a poor pass by midfielder Gokhan Inler left Miguel Britos essentially forced to foul Tommaso Rocchi in the box for a penalty, which Christian Ledsema converted with ten minutes to go. With the win, Lazio go six points clear of Napoli and three of Udinese - it looks like this will be the match that knocks the Partenopei out entirely.
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