Napoli 4 : 3 Lazio - Cavani sends Napoli second

Posted Sunday, April 03, 2011 by PA

Edinson Cavani's hat-trick helped Napoli move ahead of Inter Milan into second place in Serie A after they came from behind to beat a Lazio side who had twice led the game.

Lazio appeared to be on course to close the gap on Napoli in third place when they took the lead in the 28th minute as midfielder Stefano Mauri fired into the corner of the net from the middle of the penalty area.

The hosts then found themselves two goals up on 56 minutes when centre-back Andre Dias fired in after a pinpoint free-kick from Javier Garrido.

But Napoli have been in fantastic form at the San Paolo, not losing at home since league leaders AC Milan won there in October, and two quickfire goals brought them right back into the match.

Firstly, on the hour mark, full-back Andrea Dossena headed in from six yards before Cavani scored his first of the match two minutes later, another header after a flick-on by Christian Maggio.

Lazio should have been back in front within five minutes as Cristian Brocchi's effort hit the bar and appeared to bounce behind the line, but the referee waved play on.

It did not take long for Lazio to find the goal which restored their advantage - within two minutes of Brocchi's shot Napoli centre-back Salvatore Aronica slid in to attempt a clearance when facing his own goal and turned the ball into the net.

Giuseppe Biava was then sent off for the visitors with 10 minutes to go after hauling down the impressive Cavani in the box, the Uruguayan picking himself up to convert the penalty.

Cavani, who is now Napoli's all-time top goalscorer in a single season, then completed his hat-trick with one minute of regulation time remaining, beating the offside trap to lob Fernando Muslera in the Lazio goal to spark scenes of wild celebrations.

The drama did not end there after tempers flared deep into stoppage time, with Lazio's Giuseppe Sculli receiving his second booking of the game but remarkably the referee failed to produce the red card.