Napoli 5 : 1 Hellas Verona - Napoli end on a high
Posted Monday, May 19, 2014 by PA
Napoli ended an impressive Serie A campaign with a stunning 5-1 final-day victory over Hellas Verona.
Jose Maria Callejon struck Napoli's 100th goal of the season to put the hosts on their way in the fifth minute.
Duvan Zapata extended the lead shortly after before adding his second in the 25th minute.
Dries Mertens capped off a wonderful evening for Rafael Benitez's side by scoring a brace after the hour mark.
Juan Manuel Iturbe struck Hellas' consolation in the 66th minute as the Verona outfit, who gained promotion to Serie A last summer, ended a successful season in 10th place.
The win was Napoli's 23rd of the league campaign and their fourth straight at the San Paolo stadium.
Napoli, who were already assured of finishing third in the league heading into Sunday's match, were impressive from the start.
The Coppa Italia winners went in front when Mertens set up Callejon in the box and his right-footed shot beat Hellas goalkeeper Nicolas.
Napoli struck again in the 13th minute when Mertens sent Zapata into the area and his bullet strike towards the near post beat Nicolas.
At the other end, Luca Toni's header from Alessandro Agostini's cross was kept out by Napoli goalkeeper Antonio Doblas.
Napoli made it 3-0 before the half-hour mark when Zapata powered in a header from Callejon's cross past the helpless Nicolas.
In the 35th minute, Hellas' top scorer Toni had a goal disallowed for offside.
Before the interval, Fabrizio Cacciatore made a goal-line clearance from Mertens' effort with Nicolas already beaten.
Hellas showed more determination after the restart but they shot themselves in the foot in the 62nd minute.
Substitute Michelangelo Albertazzi's back-pass was intercepted by Mertens and the Belgium midfielder made no mistake from close range.
The visitors reduced the deficit four minutes later when Iturbe's powerful free-kick hit the top left corner of goal and out of Doblas's reach.
With 13 minutes remaining, Mertens scored his second with a stinging drive from just outside the area that beat Nicolas.
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