Italian Cup: Napoli landslide over Palermo, 5-0 at the Maradona stadium

Napoli wins easily, beating Palermo 5-0, asserting the technical and qualitative difference between themselves and the Sicilians and moving on to the round of 16 of the Italian Cup. Three goals in the first half for Antonio Conte’s team, with a brace by Ngonge and that of Juan Jesus, with the result then completed in the second half by Neres and McTominay. Eight minutes were enough for Napoli to take the lead, with Sirigu making a diving save on Ngonge’s central shot which ended up in the net. The Italian advantage becomes double in the 12th minute, again with Ngonge, protagonist in the descent down the left-handed lane which ends with the cross-court shot that beats Sirigu again. Double ring from Napoli which, however, does not reduce the pressure on Dionisi’s men, who are however dangerous in the 29th minute, with the post hit by Brunori’s shot and the subsequent tap-in by Le Douaron, who shoots high with Caprile out of goal but from a position too secluded. Impromptu flash from the Sicilians, with Napoli’s third goal coming in the 42nd minute: Neres takes the corner from the right into which Juan Jesus heads the ball and makes it 3-0.

The teams go to rest with the match delayed for a few minutes before resuming in the second half due to the throwing of some firecrackers and smoke bombs in the stands and near the pitch. The start of the second half which in the 58th minute saw Palermo lose Vasic due to a direct expulsion, caused by his dangerous intervention on Gilmour. Rosanero didn’t lose heart and in the 65th minute they found another conclusion, again with Brunori, who crossed Marin’s mistake with his right foot which ended just wide. Five minutes later, however, the fourth goal for the Azzurri came, following a defensive mix-up by Ceccaroni and Baniya that favored Simeone’s serve for the very free Neres. In the 77th minute Napoli also scored their fifth goal, with the substitutes Lukaku and McTominay providing assists and goals for the final 5-0 of “Maradona”.