Napoli 2-4 Lazio: Benitez fails to guide Neapolitans to the Champions League
Tuesday 2 June 2015 22:21, UK
Rafael Benitez failed to deliver Champions League football to Napoli as his final act before leaving the Serie A club for pastures new ended in a 4-2 defeat at home to Lazio.
Lazio were three points clear in third place heading into Sunday night's end-of-the-season encounter in Naples, but the hosts' superior head-to-head record meant a win would see the teams swap places.
While Marco Parolo and Antonio Candreva asserted Lazio's authority with first-half goals, Benitez was eager to sign off in style before completing his reported move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
During half-time he motivated his players to hit back, and Gonzalo Higuain's quickfire brace rocked the Biancocelesti before the Argentinian missed a penalty to cool Napoli's comeback.
Substitutes Ogenyi Onazi and Miroslav Klose then rubber-stamped Lazio's 4-2 victory and with it a third-placed finish.
A frantic finale was on the cards when Bruno Fernandes clawed the scoreline back to 3-2, and the Portuguese midfielder then steered the hosts back towards swansong victory with a late own goal. Had he not put through his own net then Cyril Thereau's 87th-minute goal would have denied Cagliari a winning send-off. A frantic finale was on the cards when Bruno Fernandes clawed the scoreline back to 3-2, and the Portuguese midfielder then steered the hosts back towards swansong victory with a late own goal. Had he not put through his own net then Cyril Thereau's 87th-minute goal would have denied Cagliari a winning send-off.
