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Rediff.com  » Sports » Europe football: Napoli snatch 95th minute win against 10-man Sampdoria

Europe football: Napoli snatch 95th minute win against 10-man Sampdoria

January 08, 2017 16:34 IST
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Napoli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 win over Sampdoria who had a player controversially sent off as Serie A resumed with a bang on Saturday.

Napoli's Lorenzo Tonelli celebrates after scoring second goalLorenzo Tonelli, a fringe player in the Napoli squad, fired the ball in with almost the last kick of the game to keep Napoli on the heels of leading pair Juventus and Roma.

Elseid Hysaj's own goal gave Sampdoria the lead before Manolo Gabbiandini had put Napoli back on even terms while striker Dries Mertens, who had scored eight goals in the previous three Serie A games, had an off day.

Third-placed Napoli went level on 38 points with Roma, four behind leaders Juventus. Roma visit Genoa on Sunday while Juve host Bologna.

Sampdoria went ahead just after the half hour when Hysaj tried to intercept Patrick Schick's cross but the Albania defender only succeeded in turning the ball into his own net.

Mertens should have levelled just after half time but instead fired wildly over the bar and then pointed at a divot in the pitch, clearly feeling that was where the blame lay.

Sampdoria's Matias Silvestre was booked for tripping Mertens and shortly afterwards was harshly booked again for another foul on Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, although he barely seemed to make contact.

Mertens missed another easy chance after Jose Callejon knocked the ball down but Napoli levelled in the 77th minute with a close-range effort from substitute Gabbiandini.

Napoli's intense pressure finally paid off when Tonelli scored after Ivan Strinic pulled the ball back from the byline.

A late goal from substitute Massimo Maccarone gave Empoli a 1-0 win over Palermo which put a seven-point gap between themselves and the Sicilians who are firmly in the relegation zone.

The player known as Big Mac came on in the 76th minute and within two minutes won and converted a penalty which settled the game.

Empoli, 17th in the 20-team table, have 17 points, followed by Palermo on 10 with Crotone and Pescara on nine apiece.

Draxler makes PSG debut as holders advance into French Cup last 32

Julian Draxler scored on his competitive debut for Paris St Germain as the holders cantered into the last 32 of the French Cup with a 7-0 demolition of fellow Ligue 1 club Bastia on Saturday.

Thiago Silva opened the scoring after half an hour with a powerful header from Lucas's corner.

Adrien Rabiot doubled the tally two minutes from the interval with a 30-metre missile.

Christopher Nkunku added a third three minutes into the second half with a crossed shot after a 30-metre run, while Thiago Motta made it 4-0 in the 57th minute with a diving header.

One minute later, Rabiot was replaced by Germany midfielder Draxler, who produced a fine display as he made his PSG competitive debut four days after completing his transfer from VfL Wolfsburg.

Lucas scored a 63rd-minute penalty after being brought down and Angel Di Maria increased the lead to 6-0 after collecting Thomas Meunier's cross in the area.

Draxler rounded off the rout with a delicate chip.

Elsewhere, CFA2 (fifth division) team Sarreguemines upset Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims 2-1. On Friday, Monaco advanced with a 2-1 win against AC Ajaccio.

Image: Napoli's Lorenzo Tonelli celebrates after scoring second goal against Sampdoria during the Serie A match on Saturday

Photograph: Ciro De Luca/Reuters

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