Napoli failed to maintain their winning streak in week 18 after they stumble into a 1-1 draw against Bologna at San Paolo, there’s was even controversy around the home team’s goal which comes from Edinson Cavani’s spot kick.
The Partenopei obviously disappointed with the result as getting only a point at home is not something encouraging to continue their Scudetto attempt this season considering they have already wasted several points this season, mainly against weaker team.
Still playing without their Argentinian star, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Napoli once again setting up their front pairing with the likes of Marek Hamsik, Goran Pandev and also Edinson Cavani. The home team had a great chance to take the lead early in the first half, but Hamsik was left devastated after finding out that his shot got save brilliantly by Bologna’s keeper, Jean Francois Gillet.
Hamsik should be ruing his luck especially after moments later, Bologna managed to steal a goal from Robert Acquafresca, who skipped through the Napoli defense and beat Napoli’s keeper, Morgan De Sanctis. The home team tried to make an immediate reaction by pouring forward but a combination of fine performance by Gillet and Bologna’s back-line simply prevented the Partenopei into bagging the equalizer.
However, luck seems to turn back again for Napoli after midway in the second half, they earned a rather bizarre penalty kick after Diego Perez was judged of handling offense. The thing that made the decision controversial was the fact that the referee was actually going to award a free kick instead before changing his mind after receiving info from his linesman that the hand happened inside the box instead of offside.
Despite the protests from Bologna player, the referee sticked to his decision and Cavani thumped the spot kick perfectly and gives Napoli their long awaited equalizing goal. The equalizing goal made things much more interesting as in the last15-10 minutes Bologna also regain their attacking mood, creating an exciting match until the final whistle was blown.
Match Reports:
Napoli v Bologna 1-1
Goal: Cavani 71 pen (Napoli); Acquafresca 14 (Bologna)
Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro (Zuniga 55), Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio (Vargas 83), Inler (Lucarelli 89), Gargano, Dossena; Hamsik, Pandev; Cavani
Bologna: Gillet; Raggi (Crespo 72), Antonsson, Cherubin; Pulzetti (Garics 75), Perez, Mudingayi, Morleo; Taider; Acquafresca (Ramirez 72), Di Vaio
