Udinese beat Napoli

The home side hadn’t tasted defeat in Naples since October 2010, but were starved of creativity as Udinese packed their defence and set out to hit Walter Mazzarri’s side on the counter attack.

Without the services of key men Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez, Udinese were written off ahead of the match but the little Zebra’s hit the front 10 minutes into the second-half when Inler unleashed a rocket.

Picking up the ball 40-yards outside the area, the Swiss international took aim and fired his shot into the top right hand corner to quiet the Napoli faithful.

Things then went from bad to worse seven minutes later as Denis chested down Armero’s cross and fired on the half volley past a helpless Morgan De Sanctis.

Napoli’s Christian Maggio hit the bar from a header in the 74th minute, but drama struck the match when Udinese defender Maurizio Domizzi was red carded for a coming together with Cristiano Lucarelli and the home side won a penalty.

Edinson Cavani stepped up and missed, but there was some late tension when Giuseppe Mascara pinched a goal in stoppage time.

The feisty forward pounced on a mistimed effort from Cavani and hammered the ball home from close range ending any chance Samir Handanovic had of walking away with a clean sheet.

Udinese’s custodian was superb in the first-half, tipping away a lunging effort from Ezequiel Lavezzi which could have set the game on a different course.

De Sanctis was equally impressive down the other end, getting down low to palm away a venomous drive from Denis with the match just four minutes old.

Francesco Guidolin, the Udinese manager, will remain optimistic going into next week’s match with Parma, but the signs don’t look good for midfielder Mauricio Isla who was stretchered off in the 34th minute with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

With AC Milan needing just nine points from their final five matches to secure the Scudetto, Napoli must win against Palermo next weekend if they hold any hope of recreating the magic of 1990 – the last time they claimed the Serie A title.

The Azzurri face an uphill battle however, with Lavezzi, Michele Pazienza and Paolo Cannavaro all set to miss the trip to Scilly through suspension after picking up yellow cards during the loss.

Udinese’s famous win now brings them to within a point of Lazio who sit fourth on 60 points, while Napoli lie in second on 65 points, adrift of Milan who hold a six point buffer at the summit.