MILAN: Displaying a form at the San Paolo stadium not witnessed since Diego Maradona’s exploits, Gonzalo Higuain struck in either half to put Napoli top of Serie A with an extraordinary 2-1 win over Inter Milan who twice hit the woodwork in stoppage time after playing the entire second half with 10 men on Monday.

Napoli leapfrogged Inter for the Serie A lead, moving one point ahead of the Milan club as they seek their first Serie A title since Maradona led the southern squad to the championship in 1987 and 1990. Napoli haven’t had sole possession of the lead since their second title 25 years ago.

“It was a magical evening,” Higuain told Sky Sport.. “I think we deserve first place, it’s not often we’re in the lead ... Although there’s still a long way to go in the season and it’s going to be a struggle. I don’t know any squad that hasn’t won something without a struggle.”

After just 64 seconds, the moody Argentina forward — now the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals — took a pass from Jose Callejon inside the area and used one touch before unleashing a powerful shot that Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had no chance on.

Inter were shell-shocked by the lightning start of Maurizio Sarri’s men and their hopes of staying top suffered a blow when Yuto Nagatomo saw red in the 44th minute.

The contest seemed to be over when Higuain struck again on the counter just after the hour by sprinting past two defenders and chipping in a delightful angled shot.

But Inter were not finished and Adem Ljajic reduced arrears in the 67th with a fine individual strike before Stevan Jovetic headed against the post and Miranda’s header was somehow tipped on to the upright by Napoli keeper Pepe Reina in an unforgettable finale.

“Higuain is extraordinary player and unfortunately he can make an impact with just one touch,” Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.

Napoli haven’t lost since a 2-1 defeat at Sassuolo in their season opener — the debut of new coach Sarri.

Sarri was widely criticized when Napoli drew their second and third matches of the season — with even Maradona questioning the credentials of a coach who had never managed a big club before.

But Napoli have been a force since the end of September and Higuain has acknowledged that Sarri’s impact on him has been decisive after the forward struggled under Rafa Benitez last season.

Earlier, Fiorentina, who had started the day in joint second with Napoli, were held 1-1 at Sassuolo.

Napoli lead the table with 31 points from 14 games after winning nine and drawing two of their last 11 matches. Inter have 30 points and Fiorentina are third with 29.

Sassuolo is an impressive sixth, level on 23 points with AC Milan one point behind four-time defending champions Juventus.

In a match that highlighted Giuseppe Rossi’s struggle to return to form after a series of knee injuries, Borja Valero gave Fiorentina a fifth minute lead at Sassuolo and Sergio Floccari headed the hosts level just before halftime.

The United States-born former Italy international returned in August after 15 months out following the latest surgery on his right knee, which he first injured four years ago while with Villarreal against Real Madrid and is scoreless in eight Serie A appearances.

Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa said his side were “tired” after a 2-2 Europa League draw at FC Basel last week.

“I’m disappointed, we paid for our efforts last Thursday and after the interval Sassuolo moved up a gear,” Sousa said. “We missed the chance for 2-0, then in the second half we got tired and lost concentration."

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2015