Napoli stay top as Hamsik dethrones Maradona as club record scorer

  • 2/5/2023
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Rome, Rabi'II 05, 1439, December 23, 2017, SPA -- Serie A leaders Napoli beat Sampdoria 3-2 on Saturday, twice falling behind before Marek Hamsik scored the winner to dethrone Diego Maradona as new club top scorer, according to dpa. Slovakia's Hamsik claimed his 116th goal in his 11th season at the Naples club, one more than the Argentine icon Maradona during his seven years there between 1984 and 1991. "I am happy about the goal record, but even more about the win, which was crucial for us," Hamsik said. "It is a fantastic achievement. I am glad that this goal helped us complete the comeback and clinch victory. Samp played a very good game and it was not easy to prevail." Napoli, who ended the game with 10 men, have 45 points from 18 games to move four clear of champions Juventus, with Inter Milan another point behind. Juventus were to host fourth-place Roma later Saturday while Inter lost 1-0 at Sassuolo. Napoli fell behind after two minutes as Gaston Ramirez stunned Pepe Reina with a free-kick, but levelled in the 16th from Allan's tap-in after Jose Callejon had a volley saved. Ramirez caused more trouble with a break that Elseid Hysaj stopped with a foul, leading to a penalty converted on 27 by Fabio Quagliarella for another short-lived lead. Six minutes later, Lorenzo Insigne volleyed in off an assist from Dries Mertens, who then set up Hamsik's flick in the 38th for what turned out to be the game-winner. Home defender Mario Rui was sent off after a second booking with 13 minutes remaining. Inter were unable to bounce back after Diego Falcinelli headed home Sassuolo's winner in the 34th, with league top scorer Mauro Icardi failed to convert a penalty after Davide Acerbi stopped a cross with his arm in the 49th. The Nerazzurri suffered a second defeat in the season after losing 3-1 at home to Udinese. AC Milan were also beaten for a second straight time, losing 2-0 at home to Atalanta, who had Bryan Cristante and substitute Josip Ilicic on target. The troubled Rossoneri stayed on 24 points and sit 11th with a gap of 14 points from fourth place, which qualifies for the Champions League, the elite tournament they won seven times. Atalanta are seventh on 27. Earlier in Rome, Lazio won 4-0 over struggling Crotone thanks to second-half goals and are fifth on 36 points, two behind the Champions League zone. Crotone slipped in the three-team drop zone. The hosts improved after a dull first half and found the net in the 56th minute when Jordan Lukaku finished off a counter-attack as Ciro Immobile fed him from the left. Immobile on 78 nodded home off substitute Senad Lulic to tally his 16th goal in the league. Lulic and Felipe Anderson, also a substitute, wrapped up matters with late close-range goals. Elsewhere, Torino drew 2-2 at Spal after taking a two-goal lead from a Iago Falque brace. Udinese crushed second-last Verona 4-0 with a brace from Antonin Barak; and Genoa beat tail-enders Benevento 1-0 from a penalty converted in stoppage time by Gianluca Lapadula. On Friday, Bologna won 3-2 at Chievo and Fiorentina stunned hosting Cagliari 1-0. --SPA 22:16 LOCAL TIME 19:16 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w572140

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