01/31/26 01:14:00
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01/31 13:12 CST Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but
injury crisis deepens
Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis
deepens
By DANIELLA MATAR
AP Sports Writer
MILAN (AP) --- Antonio Vergara gave Napoli supporters another reason to cheer
amid a deepening injury crisis at the Serie A defending champion on Saturday.
Vergara scored a wonder goal in the Champions League midweek and weighed in
with a goal and an assist in Serie A to help Napoli beat Fiorentina 2-1.
That was Napoli's first win in four matches in all competitions, and cut the
gap to Serie A leader Inter Milan to six points.
Inter was playing at Cremonese on Sunday.
Napoli was looking to rebound from being eliminated from the Champions League
on Wednesday after a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
Vergara scored his first goal for Napoli in that defeat and he added to that
with his first Serie A goal on Saturday, in the 11th minute. Rasmus Hojlund was
blocked from collecting a long ball by Fiorentina defenders but that allowed
Vergara to latch onto it and sprint clear before drilling into the bottom right
corner.
The locally born midfielder leapt over the advertising hoardings and onto the
track to celebrate with the fans.
Fiorentina came close to equalizing moments after the host should have doubled
its lead but Roberto Piccoli headed a free kick off the post and, as the action
continued, Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret pulled off an incredible save to parry
Albert Gu?mundsson's header at point-blank range.
However, also in that move, Giovanni Di Lorenzo landed awkwardly on his left
knee, which appeared to buckle under him. The Napoli captain was clearly in
agony and was taken off on a stretcher to an ambulance.
Napoli has struggled with injuries all season and the players sidelined include
Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano
and Amir Rrahmani.
Napoli doubled its lead at the start of the second half when Vergara picked out
Miguel Gutirrez on the right and he cut inside past Fiorentina defender Robin
Gosens before curling into the far bottom corner.
Manor Solomon reduced the deficit in the 57th minute, tapping in the rebound
after Meret parried Piccoli's attempt.
Fiorentina remained 18th in Serie A, one point from safety.
Berardi's back
Domenico Berardi had a great return to the starting lineup by scoring and
forcing an own goal as Sassuolo won at Pisa 3-1. Berardi's first start since
November followed a hamstring strain.
Sassulo climbed up to 11th while Pisa remained rooted to the bottom of the
table, four points from safety.
Hellas Verona, in penultimate place, was playing at mid-table Cagliari later.
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