[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 19 - 20/1/08 (14.00 UK)
Napoli 2 - 2 Lazio
Hamsik 5, 94 (N), Ledesma 25 (L), Pandev 32 (L)
Stadio San Paolo

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Marek Hamsik's brace gave 10-man Napoli a last-gasp point in this eventful encounter with Lazio.

These two teams had already met on Thursday for the Coppa Italia, a 1-1 draw proving enough to qualify Lazio 3-2 on aggregate. As far as Serie A was concerned, both sides were without a win in three and needed a morale-boosting victory, as Napoli were thrashed 5-2 at Milan and the Biancocelesti humiliatingly fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Genoa. Despite it all, the club proposed Delio Rossi a contract extension.

Lazio's injury crisis continues unabated with Luciano Zauri, Gaby Mudingayi, Fabio Firmani, Stephen Makinwa, Mourad Meghni and Tommaso Rocchi sidelined. The home side had Marcelo Zalayeta and Walter Gargano suspended.

Napoli took just five minutes to break the deadlock, as Mariano Bogliacino's cross from the left was deflected, but Marek Hamsik readjusted his position to smash under the bar first time.

The Biancocelesti thought they had equalised with a sensational stop and volley, but Goran Pandev's goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Garics fired off target, but Lazio did get their goal on 26 minutes with Cristian Ledesma. The Argentine unleashed a trademark rocket from over 25 metres with his fierce left foot.

Lazio turned the game around completely at the Stadio San Paolo, as Igli Tare sent Pandev clear with the aid of a failed offside trap and the Macedonian placed a delicate finish over the goalkeeper.

Marco Ballotta showed there's life in the old dog yet, as he parried Ezequiel Lavezzi's free kick and the Garics follow-up from point-blank range. Then on the counter Hamsik fired straight at the veteran goalkeeper.

After the restart Ballotta did brilliantly to fingertip Hamsik's header out from under the bar.

Ledesma almost made it 3-1 for Lazio, as his free kick smacked the woodwork with Gennaro Iezzo rooted to the spot.

Ballotta was again magnificent to stop Lavezzi as he ran on to Roberto Sosa's flicked on header, then at the other end Fabio Vignaroli fired over from a counter.

Massimo Mutarelli got his body in front of a Lavezzi effort and Ballotta was again decisive on Sam Dalla Bona.

Napoli finished the game with 10 men, as Blasi picked up a second booking for kicking the ball away. He has received 10 yellow cards this season. When Ballotta blocked a Sosa header, they thought it was all over, but in the final minute of stoppages Hamsik drew Napoli level with a fantastic volley from the edge of the box. It took a deflection on the way through.

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Napoli: Iezzo; Cupi, Cannavaro, Domizzi, Garics (Grava 78); Hamsik, Blasi, Bogliacino (Calaio' 70), Savini (Dalla Bona 55); Lavezzi, Sosa

Lazio: Ballotta; De Silvestri, Stendardo, Siviglia, Kolarov; Behrami, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri (Manfredini 84); Pandev (Vignaroli 64), Tare (Rocchi 61)

Ref: Rocchi

Sent off: Blasi 91 (N)

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