MILAN: An Edinson Cavani hat trick handed Napoli a 3-0 win over Lazio to keep pace with Serie A leaders Juventus as Milan finally broke their San Siro jinx by beating Cagliari 2-0 at home Wednesday night.
Cavani’s first-half brace and third goal just after the hour meant Walter Mazzarri’s side join Juventus in remaining unbeaten after five games, and put the Uruguayan top of the league scoring charts on five goals.
“I’m happy to have scored three goals, but the fact we’ve won is what matters,” said Cavani, who brushed off suggestions Napoli could reproduce another challenge for the scudetto.
“I don’t know if it will be a duel for the title with Juventus, but I do know it’s too early to make the call.” Juventus had failed to build on their two-point lead on Napoli Tuesday when they dropped their first points of the season in a 0-0 draw away to an impressive Fiorentina.
Juventus and Napoli now sit joint top with 13 points and boasting the exact same goals for/against figures.
With Inter Milan winning 2-0 away to Chievo and Sampdoria drawing away to Roma, it means Lazio drop to fifth with AC Milan moving up to 10th after their first home win of the season.
Napoli had managed to beat Lazio only once in their last seven league encounters and early on it appeared the visitors had opened the scoring after German international Miroslav Klose bundled the ball into the net.
But after Napoli players reacted furiously, Klose admitted he had given the ball a helping hand over the line and the goal was disallowed.
It took Cavani only 19 minutes to settle nerves when he unleashed a long-distance missile, which crucially deflected off Michael Ciani to beat the helpless Federico Agazzi.
Cavani grabbed his second by beating the offside trap to send a rocket over the top of the outstretched Agazzi on the half hour.
The Uruguayan then ran down on goal unchallenged and dribbled around Marchetti to score his third just after the hour mark.
Cavani could have had a fourth from the spot after second-half substitute Lorenzo Insigne won a penalty, however the Uruguayan skied his effort over the bar.
While Inter grabbed an important win away to Chievo to move up fourth, it was city rivals AC Milan who grabbed the San Siro bragging rights.
Neither team had won at the shared stadium this season, leading Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri to come under huge pressure in recent weeks.
Ironically, the 45-year-old coach was serving a touchline ban for protests made to match officials on Sunday when his team finally turned the corner.
Italy under-21 striker Stephan El Shaarawy scored both goals for the Rossoneri in a match, which saw Brazilian Robinho, who has finally recovered from injury, come off the bench in the second half.
Allegri has shown a lot of faith in El Shaarawy this season, and the young Italian was quick to dedicate his goals to his coach.
“Absolutely, we’re all right behind him,” he said. “Allegri has shown a lot of confidence in me. I’m young, but I always try to give my best and tonight it finally paid off.” Roma, who on Monday were handed a 3-0 home win by league chiefs after the enforced postponement of their away match to Cagliari, took a first-half lead through club icon Francesco Totti.
He scored his 216th Serie A goal to sit level third in the all-time scoring charts.
However Gianni Munari stunned the Olympic stadium with a 62nd minute equalizer and Sampdoria held on for a draw which means they are still unbeaten this season and in third place one point ahead of Inter.
Cavani trick stuns Lazio as Milan wins at home
Cavani trick stuns Lazio as Milan wins at home
Horses central to major Vision 2030 projects in Kingdom, racing leaders say
- Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh hears about host of new equine projects
RIYADH: Leaders of Vision 2030 projects across Saudi Arabia told delegates at the 41st Asian Racing Conference that equestrianism and other sports are having a crucial impact on wider economic development and investment in the country.
Sport has been at the core of Saudi Arabia’s vision with significant investments in golf, tennis and football but the country’s love of horseracing means it is seen as a central driver of many projects maturing across the Kingdom.
The topic was covered during a panel session on Tuesday at the 41st ARC in Riyadh, organized by the Asian Racing Federation and hosted by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
On the day news broke of a new racetrack to be constructed at Qiddiya just outside the capital, it was clear that horses are a key part of Saudi communities and a driver of economic growth.
Panelist Tim Hadaway, equestrian development executive director, sports sector, AlUla, said the horse was at the heart of much of their strategic thinking at a venue which will host an FEI World Championship event later this year.
“The horse is really one of the key strategic pillars of the project, part of Vision 2030 to drive economic development and diversity as well as the development of tourism, to showcase this part of the Kingdom to the world.”
He welcomed the increasing collaboration between various horse racing projects in the country.
“We’re working together, looking at what the ecosystem needs across the Kingdom, and to find that really strong infrastructure, that really strong development, that our company is going to see and helps the Kingdom succeed on the international stage.”
Marc Hewett, executive director, head of racecourse, Qiddiya Investment Co., was delighted to announce plans of the new racecourse on the site that will become the home of The Saudi Cup.
“Creating economic stability and economic rights, increasing equity, increasing demand, job creation, sustainability, targets and improving that infrastructure.
“These developments were all based around core, residential, education, sport, and retail projects. We’re embracing the power of play, new residents and social communities, 500,000 residents, 200,000 jobs, tourism, hospitality, education, sports and entertainment.”
