Friday August 9 2013
Higuain's Napoli beat Benfica

Gonzalo Higuain scored his first goal in a Napoli jersey during their 2-1 friendly victory over Benfica.

The Partenopei had their pre-season celebration, complete with fireworks, dance routines and the unveiling of the Napoli Cheerleaders.

It took just five minutes for Valon Behrami to break the deadlock, getting his head to a Lorenzo Insigne cross.

Insigne went for goal himself with a snapshot that Artur palmed out for a corner, then Jose Maria Callejon fired over and the goalkeeper smothered at Higuain’s feet.

Artur also flew to fingertip away a curling Insigne free kick, but Callejon wasted a golden opportunity set up for him by the Italy Under-21 starlet.

Benfica drew level just before the break, as Luisao rose to nod a free kick past Pepe Reina.

Dries Mertens came on for the second half and turned his header just wide before testing Artur with a right-foot strike.

Blerim Dzemaili also shot from distance, but Higuain scored his debut goal in a Napoli jersey. Pipita was in the right place at the right time to tap in a Pablo Armero assist.

Emanuele Calaio came off the bench and almost immediately his header ricocheted off the upright to roll along the line and Artur flapped it away before the ball could cross over completely.

However, Benfica also rattled the woodwork late on with Djuricic’s shot from the edge of the box.

Napoli 2-1 Benfica

Scorers: Behrami 5 (N), Luisao 43 (B), Higuain 70 (N)

Napoli: Reina (Rafael 46); Mesto (Maggio 46), Albiol (Gamberini 72), Britos (Cannavaro 46), Zuniga (Mesto 46); Inler (Dzemaili 46), Behrami (Radosevic 78); Callejon (Novothny 82), Hamsik (Pandev 62), Insigne (Mertens 46); Higuain (Calaio 72)

Benfica: Artur Moraes; Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Garay, Bruno Cortez; Matic, Enzo Perez, Sulejmani, Gaitán, Markovic, Rodrigo
