Salernitana Delay Napoli's Coronation On Dramatic Day In Serie A
Napoli were six minutes away from being crowned champions of Italy for the third time in the club's history but a late Salernitana goal on Sunday saw their coronation delayed.
A win would have sealed Napoli's first Scudetto since 1990 but Boulaye Dia scored a brilliant solo goal to earn Salernitana a 1-1 draw after Uruguayan defender Mathias Olivera had headed the home side in front on 62 minutes.
Napoli will almost certainly still win the title. Indeed they could be confirmed as champions on Thursday when they play away at Udinese.
But they badly wanted to get the job done in Naples and they came so close on a dramatic day in Serie A.
Napoli fans came to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to see their team win the Scudetto on Sunday but Salernitana forced them to wait
IMAGO/LaPresse/Alessandro Garofalo
Napoli fans started the party early but they needed Lazio to drop points away to Inter Milan in the first game of the day in order for their team to be able to win the title this weekend.
That party looked like it might have to be put on hold when Felipe Anderson fired Lazio 1-0 up at the San Siro.
But Inter hit back with three goals in the final 12 minutes to win 3-1.
The game in Milan finished shortly before kick-off in Naples where the party was now well and truly back on.
However, Salernitana kept Napoli at bay until just after the hour-mark when Olivera's opener sent the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona wild.
Nervous excitement filled the arena. Many fans in attendance had never witnessed their team win a league championship.
The party mood dropped suddenly in the 84th minute when Dia produced a moment of magic to draw the away side level.
Napoli were stunned but they rallied and came close to regaining the lead in a chaotic finale.
But it was the Salernitana players who were celebrating at full-time.
Players from Salernitana pictured celebrating after scoring a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Napoli
IMAGO/LaPresse/Alessandro Garofalo
