Destro double blows hole in Napoli hopes

Piece by: AFP
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Mattia Destro struck in either half as Bologna dented Napoli's Serie A title hopes with a dramatic 3-2 win on Sunday.

Napoli travelled to the Dall'Ara stadium expected to maintain a long unbeaten run that has seen Maurizio Sarri's men become bona fide challengers to defending champions Juventus.

But the Azzurri struggled to recover after going 2-0 down before the half-hour as Luca Rossettini added to Destro's 14th-minute opener.

Destro hit his second on the hour and Bologna seemed to be out of sight, although Napoli came fighting back at the death when Gonzalo Higuain hit a brace to reduce arrears and set up a tense finale.

But Napoli failed to produce a third goal as Bologna hung on for just their fifth win of the season to move two points clear of the drop zone.

Napoli had gone top of the pile for the first time in 25 years last week with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan.

However, Inter reclaimed first place with a 1-0 win against Genoa on Saturday and they are now two points clear of Napoli at the summit.

Fiorentina, who sit third, can move up to second at the expense of Napoli if they account for Udinese later Sunday.

Napoli enjoyed a bright start but Bologna, who have enjoyed a renaissance since former Parma coach Roberto Donadoni took over from sacked Delio Rossi last month, soaked up the early pressure and were quickly into their stride.

Just before the quarter hour Napoli defender Raul Albiol was caught out by the pace and guile of Destro, who muscled his way towards goal to collect Amadou Diawara's long ball and beat Pepe Reina down low.

Bologna were playing with confidence and Albiol had to intercept a dangerous Saphir Taider cross towards the back post, but from the resulting corner Rossettini was left unmarked to send a bullet header past Reina on 21 minutes.

It sparked a quick Napoli reaction with Antonio Mirante saving from Lorenzo Insigne and then in spectacular fashion to touch Jose Callejon's deflected volley onto the base of the post.

Napoli were firing on all cylinders when they emerged from the interval, only to be thwarted three times in succession.

Higuain should have done better when Hamsik slid him the ball 12 yards out from goal only to sky his effort over.

Allan then toiled to hold off Franco Brienza and muscle his way into a scoring position before curling his effort wide of Mirante's far post.

Moments later a delightful Insigne cross went over the head of Higuain on the edge of the six-yard box and was met by Callejon at the far post, but his chance was wasted.

Napoli were making all the right moves but an error by Hamsik allowed Destro to grab his second, Reina looking nervous as the ex-Roma striker fired under his body on the hour.

It could have been four for the hosts but, only yards from goal, Anthony Mounier fired over Reina's crossbar.

Higuain reduced the arrears on 87 minutes when he flicked Insigne's cross past Mirante while stuck between two defenders and then again when he collected a Callejon long ball to fire past Mirante from just inside the box.

But it was not enough for Napoli, who suffered their first defeat since losing to Sassuolo on the opening day of the season.

Photo Credits : AFP