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.