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01.12.2015 Sports News

Higuain's brace leads Napoli at top of Serie

By GNA
Higuain's brace leads Napoli at top of Serie
01.12.2015 LISTEN

Rome, Dec. 1, (GNA/dpa) - Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain struck twice in a 2-1 defeat of 10-man Inter Milan to push his side into first place in the Italian Serie A and go alone at the top of the scorers chart.

The Argentine opened the scoring in the second minute as Jose Callejon set him up in the box for a smashing shot and drilled home another drive in the 62nd minute after Yuto Nagatomo was dismissed two minutes from the break.

Napoli lead on 31 points from 14 games, having leapfrogged 30-point Inter as Fiorentina moved on 29 from an earlier 1-1 draw at tough underdogs Sassuolo.

Higuain's tally of 12 goals put him two clear of Sampdoria's Eder.

The Naples hosts stayed in control after their early lead and only allowed wide shot from Fredy Guarin on 29 and Ivan Perisic on 40.

Levelling became an uphill battle for the Nerazzurri when Japan midfielder Nagatomo got a second booking after a foul on Allan.

Marek Hamsik aimed a weak header on the hour and two minutes later saw his team-mate Higuain net his second goal.

Inter, who were unbeaten in away games, pulled one back on 67 as Adem Ljajic fired into the same right corner where Higuain drilled his first and pressed fiercely in the closing minutes.

The Serb Ljajic missed from close range with three-minutes left and Higuain forced a difficult save from Samir Handanovic, but the hosts almost levelled as substitute Stevan Jovetic and Miranda nodded against the posts in injury.

GNA

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