NAPLES – A penalty from Cavani took Napoli to the semi-finals, and a penalty denied to Milito eliminated Inter from the Coppa Italia. A year later, again in the quarter-finals of the Cup, the story from the penalty spot did not repeat itself, as the referee Celi rightly whistled Motta's foul (on Cavani) for a complaining Mazzarri, while Ranieri watched Maggio's push – as the last man – on Milito go unpunished, despite the fact that it was clear in both live action as well as on TV replays. And so it went. Inter's feisty second half, with the team a goal down, was not enough. In fact, insult was added to injury when Cavani netted his second in stoppage time.
FIRST HALF - On 15 minutes Castellazzi managed a miracle when pushing a shot
from Maggio out for a corner. Sneijder then responded from the edge of the box
but his shot finished too centrally to cause problems. In the 19th
minute a dubious foul by Samuel on Lavezzi brought a free kick from Gargano,
and the Uruguayan's attempt from 20 yards nicked the post. Inter were closing
down well but struggling to counter, while Mazzarri's side tried to break
through on the flanks and through the speedy Lavezzi's darting runs. This is
how the opening minutes of the half can be summed up; very tactical. Chinks
were being sought in the armour, and in the 23rd minute Samuel's
header (on a corner) forced a save from De Sanctis. It was a first half that
was anything but fluid, with Napoli manoeuvring more and Inter looking to hit
deep on the counter. The action was broken up and both teams were anchored down
without wanting to unbalance themselves and give up space to their opponent.
Then, five minutes before the halftime whistle, Mazzarri's boys gave the
Nerazzurri a fright when Aronica's right-footer finished in Castellazzi's arms.
SECOND HALF - It began with Alvarez on for Obi in a 4-3-2-1. Inter immediately threatened on a corner but Napoli made the most of the first controversial moment. On the edge of the box, Motta failed to control the ball and gave away a penalty when fouling Cavani in his attempt to win it back. El Matador dispatched from the spot to make it 1-0. It was proof that only an individual error, going one way or the other, could upset the balance in the San Paolo. Now in the lead, Mazzarri's team could play the game that they preferred; that of the counterattack. The referee Celi gave them a hand in the 58th minute when he denied Inter a penalty; Maggio's arm clearly held Milito as he was sent in on goal. Two minutes later De Sanctis punched away a free kick from Sneijder. Then another attempt from the Dutchman grazed the post from the edge of the box.
Denied a clear penalty and with their pride stung, Ranieri's team then set up camp in Napoli's midfield. There was an excellent chance for Alvarez when he found himself alone in front of De Sanctis, but instead of equalising the Argentine could only weakly kick the ball into the keeper's arms. In the 72nd minute Gargano won the ball and gave it to Cavani who then fed Pandev, only to see the Napoli substitute – and ex-Interista – shoot high. At the other end of the pitch De Sanctis went low to block a right-footer from Milito. On came Zarate (for Thiago Motta) and Inter went to a 4-2-3-1. Castellazzi saved from Cavani, and only a few seconds later a lively Sneijder blasted his long-distance shot just centimetres off target. On 87 minutes De Sanctis pulled off a triple save from Zarate and Cambiasso (twice). Mazzarri only had defending on his mind, while the Nerazzurri looked to exploit every possible moment to find the net and stay in the competition. However, Cavani struck again on a counterattack in the 93rd minute to kill off the match.
Napoli 2-0 Inter (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Cavani 50 (pen), 90+3.
Napoli: 1 De Sanctis; 14 Campagnaro, 28 Cannavaro, 6 Aronica; 11 Maggio, 23 Gargano, 88 Inler (Dzemaili 82), 18 Zuniga; 17 Hamsik (Dossena 87), 22 Lavezzi (Pandev 65); 7 Cavani.
Unused subs: 83 Rosati, 16 Vargas, 21 Fernandez, 85 Britos.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon, 23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta (Zarate 76), 19 Cambiasso, 20 Obi (Alvarez 46); 10 Sneijder, 22 Milito.
Unused subs: 1 Julio Cesar, 2 Cordoba, 37 Faraoni, 18 Poli, 30 Castaignos.
Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Domenico Celi (Bari).
Booked: Chivu 24, Sneijder 39, Milito 57, Maggio 59, Gargano 86.
Added time: 1+3 minutes.
