Catania 2 : 1 Napoli - Marchese the hero for Catania

Posted Saturday, October 29, 2011 by PA

Catania moved level on points with Napoli in Serie A with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Massimino.

Edinson Cavani put Napoli ahead in the first minute, but the Sicilians turned the game around with goals from Gonzalo Bergessio and Giovanni Marchese.

To add insult to injury, Napoli ended the game with 10 men with Mario Santana controversially sent off late in the first half for a second bookable offence.

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri clearly had his mind on Wednesday's trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, making five changes to his usual starting XI.

But the game could not have got off to a better start for the visitors with Cavani putting them ahead after just 32 seconds.

Giuseppe Mascara sent the ball out wide to Andrea Dossena, whose cross was met at the near post by Cavani, who diverted the ball into the goal with a delicate touch.

Catania levelled in the 25th minute with Marchese striking while the rest of his team were looking at the referee.

They wanted a penalty for handball against Juan Zuniga, but Marchese pounced on the loose ball to beat Morgan De Sanctis with a powerful shot from eight yards out.

Catania grew in confidence and Sergio Almiron came close to adding a second in the 38th minute, but his shot from just inside the penalty area hit the post.

Four minutes later, Napoli were reduced to 10 men when Santana picked up his second yellow card for an innocuous tackle on Adrian Ricchiuti.

It was only a matter of time before the home side took advantage of the extra man and Bergessio put them in front three minutes into the second half.

Ricchiuti crossed the ball in from the left and the ball made its way through to the far post, where Bergessio headed it in from close range.

De Sanctis denied Alejandro Gomez in the 65th minute as Catania looked to wrap up the victory, and they were almost made to pay for their failure to add a third when Blerim Dzemaili's shot was saved on the line by Nicolas Spolli in stoppage time.