MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 SPORTS Higuain from hero to zero as Udinese dent Napoli hopes MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain hit his 30th hour. After an angry exchange with the played great while we just never got to just to make up the numbers. It was a prompted his expulsion. Udinese Serie A goal then saw red as Napoli’s match referee, the Argentine striker had play at our usual level. “The defeat will great performance against a top side, remained a threat, Gabriel rushing out to hopes of a first title in 26 years were dealt to be restrained by teammates as he make us angry for a day or so, but it will and one that should give us the belief punch at the feet of former Napoli striker a blow in a bad-tempered 3-1 defeat to tried to remonstrate with Udinese play- also give us enough fuel for the next sev- that we can do it again.” Duvan Zapata after Badu’s overhead kick Udinese. ers. If Napoli fail in their title bid on the en games. “We’re having a great cam- Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly had sent the ball towards goal. Zapata Napoli, who last won the title when final matchday on May 15, this loss will paign. We have to pick ourselves up as was clumsy with his shoulder charge on flashed a header wide following cross Diego Maradona played his penultimate be seen as the turning point. soon as as possible.” Juve’s win on Emmanuel Badu and after the referee from Thereau soon after while at the oth- season at the club in 1990, were left with Napoli’s first reverse since a 1-0 defeat Saturday prompted coach Massimiano pointed to the spot Fernandes stepped er end Higuain fired over and Lorenzo a six-point deficit to Juventus after the to Juventus two months ago leaves them Allegri to proclaim: “I hope Napoli drop up to squirm a tame shot under the body Insigne skewed just wide of the near champions’ 1-0 win over Empoli on second at six points behind four-time points.” of Gabriel. Napoli were back on level post. Napoli were stunned on the stroke Saturday. Trailing 2-1 at half-time thanks consecutive champions Juventus with Adding to the pressure, Napoli were terms soon after, Higuain hitting a crisp of half-time when a Gabriel’s poor con- to a Bruno Fernandes double which seven games remaining. without injured ‘keeper Pepe Reina (calf) first-timer past Orestis Karnezis on 24 trol gave possession to Zapata, who included a spot-kick and a spectacular Roma are away at Lazio in the capital for a fixture they had not won at the minutes after Jose Callejon’s drive was twisted and turned before sending a overhead kick, Napoli failed to recover derby later looking to close their seven- Friuli since September 2007. Udinese, charged down. cross over for Fernandes to fire an over- after falling behind to Cyril Thereau’s point gap to second place although despite their poor recent form, had But less than a minute later, Udinese head kick into the empty net. Gabriel strike just before the hour. Having seen defeat for Luciano Spalletti’s visitors Reina’s replacement, Gabriel, flapping in earned another penalty when Silvan was left stranded again although Napoli’s coach Maurizio Sarri sent from the touch- would brighten the Champions League the Napoli net soon after kick-off-prior to Widmer was tripped from behind by defence was primarily at fault 13 minutes lines before the interval for protesting a qualifying hopes of both Fiorentina and which a minute’s applause was held and Faouzi Ghoulam. This time, Gabriel after the restart when Thereau got second penalty award, Napoli suffered Inter Milan, who are five points further AC Milan legend Cesare Maldini, who blocked Fernandes’s poorly-hit shot but between Raul Albiol and Elseid Hysaj a another blow when Higuain was given behind. But Sarri was defiant: “We can’t died at the age of 84. But coach Gigi De the save did not calm the nerves of Sarri, yard from goal to guide a cross from the his marching orders in the final quarter take anything away from Udinese, they Canio affirmed: “We didn’t turn up here whose protestations on the touchlines right past the ‘keeper. — AFP Juve sight record as Roma rout Lazio MILAN: A record-equalling fifth consecu- final year’s contract, club president James tive crown moved a step closer for Serie A Pallotta is trying to steer the 39-year-old champions Juventus yesterday as Roma into a director’s role instead. maintained their Champions League push Having made only six appearances amid with a 4-1 humiliation of derby rivals Lazio. an injury-hit season, Totti started on the Juventus looked to be down and out of bench as Roma maintained their push for a the title race only months after securing a third consecutive runners-up spot-albeit in league and Cup double last year in a virtually empty stadium as fans largely Massimiliano Allegri’s first season in charge. heeded boycott calls in protest at new But from a dismal start to the campaign security measures. that left the Turin giants only a handful of Coach Luciano Spalletti told Premium points above the relegation zone, Juve Sport: “I’m sorry Totti didn’t have a chance have pulled six points clear of rivals Napoli to come on but as coach I have decisions to following their shock 3-1 defeat at Udinese. make and I have other players who are just Juve, who last won a fifth straight crown as strong as him.” in 1935, managed only a 1-0 win from a The visitors broke the deadlock on 16 dominant performance at home to Empoli minutes when Stephan El Shaarawy got his on Saturday but it was enough for Allegri to head to a cross to claim his maiden goal in proclaim “I hope Napoli drop points” at the ‘Derby della Capitale’. Udinese. The 48-year-old’s wish came true. Lazio’s few positive notes came from Although Argentine striker Gonzalo highly-rated Brazilian forward Felipe Higuain hit his 30th league goal of the Anderson in an otherwise disappointing campaign, Napoli imploded in a bad-tem- first half. “We suffered in the opening half pered display at the Stadio Friuli that saw because it was just too difficult to take pos- coach Maurizio Sarri sent off for dissent and session from them,” said coach Stefano Higuain see red after an angry altercation Pioli. “On their goals, we made big mistakes in the closing quarter hour. but I don’t think the score is a true reflec- Napoli’s dream of securing a first scudet- tion of the game. “In such a difficult season to since Diego Maradona played his penul- we wanted to give some joy to the fans. All timate season with the club in 1990 looks we can do now is give everything we have to be slipping away, especially as Juve have till the end of the season.” an arguably easier run-in. Roma resumed in similar fashion and LEICESTER: Southampton’s Jose Fonte, right, jumps over Southampton’s goalkeeper Fraser Forster chased by Leicester’s Daniel Drinkwater dur- But Sarri says it’s not over yet: “The minutes after replacing El Shaarawy on the ing the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Southampton at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, yester- defeat will make us angry for a day or so, hour, Edin Dzeko fired home the rebound day. — AP but it will also give us enough fuel for the from Diego Perotti’s drive when it came off next seven games. the post. German veteran Miroslav Klose, “No one can point the finger at us who had replaced Alessandro Matri on 56 because we’re six points behind Juventus. minutes, changed Lazio’s prospects by ris- Morgan sends Leicester We’re having a great campaign and I have a ing to head the ball into the path of Marco squad of 25 players who will pick them- Parolo for his easy poke into the net on 75 selves back up and show great determina- minutes. But Roma finished in style, tion to finish the season on a high.” Alessandro Florenzi pouncing on Gil Patric’s seven points clear Although still in the title race, Napoli will poor headed clearance to fire a first-timer now feel the heat from third-placed Roma, past Marchetti, who was left clutching at away, remain seventh and face an uphill battle party, Leicester struck, Christian Fuchs guiding a who humiliated Lazio 4-1 in what may have thin air minutes later when Perotti curled to force their way into the Europa League berths. cross into the box from the left flank and been Francesco Totti’s final derby appear- inside his far post. Leicester 1 With chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha lay- Morgan outjumping Clasie to plant a captain’s ance. A win for Inter Milan over Torino will see ing on free doughnuts and bottles of beer for header inside the left-hand post. Dusan Tadic Roberto Mancini’s men move past home fans to mark his birthday and ‘Leicester replaced Matt Targett at half-time for DEADLOCK Fiorentina into fourth place to sit five City Champions 2016’ scarves for sale on the Southampton, who changed to a 4-2-3-1 system, Although Totti is hoping for a 24th and points behind Roma.