Fiorentina 3 - 3 Napoli: Napoli strike at the death to deny Fiorentina victory

Posted Friday, December 23, 2016 by PA

Federico Bernardeschi provided two goals and an assist for Fiorentina, but Napoli snatched a point with a late leveller in a 3-3 draw at the Artemio Franchi.

Lorenzo Insigne's stunner gave Napoli an early advantage, but Bernardeschi pegged them back, later grabbing his second in sumptuous style after visiting winger Dries Mertens had continued his hot streak in front of goal.

At the death, substitute Mauro Zarate turned Bernardeschi's classy centre home, only for Manolo Gabbiadini to frustrate the Tuscans from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.

Napoli made the most of the early running with Insigne trying his luck from distance. Home goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu sprang into action to punch clear.

There was nothing the Romanian could do about Insigne's opener, though. Collecting the ball in the final third with 25 minutes gone, the Italy striker let fly from 20 yards and found the top right corner.

Mertens, who scored four in the 5-3 victory over Torino, had a goal ruled out for offside shortly before the break.

Not much time had elapsed in the second half when Bernardeschi whipped home an equaliser from a free-kick, with Azzurri keeper Jose Reina tricked by a deflection off Jose Callejon.

Desperate to restore their lead, Napoli surged forward and went close when Mertens beat Tatarusanu - but not Maximiliano Olivera - with a point-blank bullet effort.

The in-form Belgian put Napoli ahead once more with an 68th-minute finish that followed Nenad Tomovic's mistake, but Fiorentina were level inside a minute as Bernardeschi doubled his tally with a left-footed shot over Reina's shoulders.

Then, with eight minutes remaining, Bernardeschi turned provider to pick out Zarate, who volleyed into the bottom corner.

Fiorentina looked good for all three points until Carlos Salcedo upended Mertens in the box. Gabbiadini did the rest.