Football: Napoli clinch Italian Cup

ROME: Juventus’ record-breaking 43-match undefeated run came to an end when Napoli won the Italian Cup 2-0. Serie A champions Juventus saw their hopes of a league and cup double shattered by two second-half goals, with defeat particularly painful for captain Alessandro Del Piero, who was playing the last match of his 19-year career with the club. Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute when goal-keeper Marco Storari brought down Ezequiel Lavezzi. Seven minutes from time, Napoli’s first Italian Cup triumph since Diego Maradona’s team won the 1987 double was assured when Goran Pandev launched a lightning counter-attack before playing in Marek Hamsik, who slotted the ball into the corner.”It’s almost unthinkable to beat Juventus over 90 minutes when they hadn’t lost all season,” said Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri. “It was an achievement within an achievement.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2012.