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Napoli logo
Serie A
Oct 18, 2015 at 2pm UK
 
Fiorentina logo

2-1

Insigne (46'), Higuain (75')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Kalinic (73')

Gonzalo Higuain fires Napoli past Fiorentina

Gonzalo Higuain scores to give Napoli a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina as the Partenopei close the gap on the Serie A leaders to three points.

Gonzalo Higuain struck a second-half winner as Napoli edged to a 2-1 victory over Serie A leaders Fiorentina at the Stadio San Paolo.

Fiorentina came closest to scoring in the early exchanges when Jakub Blaszczykowski fired in a low drive that was palmed to safety by Pepe Reina.

Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio San Paolo on October 18, 2015© Getty Images

The hosts soon worked an opening of their own as Marek Hamsik worked some space before drilling in an effort that Ciprian Tatarusanu kept out.

Tatarusanu was called into action again minutes later to keep out Lorenzo Insigne's curling free kick from the edge of the box.

At the end of the first half Higuain had the chance to give his side the lead when he was found at the back post by Insigne, but he could only place his header over the bar.

Following a goalless first half, Napoli took the lead just moments after the break when Insigne latched onto Hamsik's threaded pass, before guiding a low strike beyond the keeper and into the far corner.

Head coach of Napoli Maurizio Sarri and head coach of Fiorentina Paulo Sousa during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio San Paolo on October 18, 2015 in Naples, Italy.© Getty Images

Nikola Kalinic almost levelled for the visitors minutes later when he burst through the defence, before seeing his low effort saved at the near post by Reina.

However, Kalinic did manage to find the net in the 73rd minute when he raced onto Josip Ilicic's threaded pass, before poking an effort beyond the keeper and into the corner.

Fiorentina were not level for long, as two minutes later Higuain slotted an effort past Tatarusanu after being played through on goal by Dries Mertens.

Despite a late rally from the visitors, they were unable to find the back of the net for the second time, as Napoli stretched their winning run to four games.

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Allan (L) of Napoli competes for the ball with Borja Valero of Fiorentina during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio San Paolo on October 18, 2015 in Naples, Italy.
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Lazio1171324141022
6Juventus115601971221
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Empoli1135389-114
12Roma113441214-213
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
14Como122461323-1010
15Genoa12246922-1310
16CagliariCagliari11236919-109
17Parma111641417-39
18Monza111551014-48
19VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
20Lecce11227420-168


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