By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Cagliari, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) - Napoli failed to join Roma in second place in the Serie A table on Saturday as the club was held to a 1-1 draw at Cagliari.
Napoli entered the contest three points back of the capital club, but fell behind after nine minutes to a goal from Nene.
Gonzalo Higuain scored from the penalty spot 10 minutes later as the visitors leveled the contest, while Napoli had a goal disallowed in the second half that would have handed them three points.
A slip by Napoli defender Christian Maggio helped set up the opening goal as Calgiari's Davide Astori took advantage by collecting the ball on right wing and sliding a pass into the area for Nene, who rolled his shot under goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Nene was forced to leave the game with an injury shortly after his goal, and Astori helped to give back the goal he created by fouling Napoli's Goran Pandev inside the penalty area.
Higuain had no trouble converting the subsequent spot kick, and although Napoli dominated much of the second half, they failed to find another.
Jose Callejon had the ball in the net in the 73rd minute with a shot from 20 yards, but the linesman's flag went up as he ruled that Higuain was in an offsides position and obstructed the view of the goalkeeper.
Substitute Dries Mertens also had a late chance, yet his curling effort sailed narrowly wide of the post.
Saturday's other fixture saw Udinese secure a 2-1 win at Livorno when Thomas Heurtaux scored the winning goal in the 65th minute.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/napoli-held-to-draw-at-cagliari