Toni: Disallowed goal changed game

New Juventus signing Luca Toni believes his disallowed equaliser was the turning point in a 3-0 defeat to Napoli on Sunday.

With the Turin side trailing 1-0 at the Stadio San Paolo, Toni – who joined from Serie A rivals Genoa on Friday – looked to have levelled with his first goal for the club, only to have the strike disallowed for fouling Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis in the build-up.

Uruguay international Edinson Cavani went on to claim a hat-trick for the hosts, ensuring a defeat on debut for 2006 World Cup winner Toni.

“It definitely didn’t start well,” the 33-year-old former Fiorentina striker said.

“We knew that the match would be difficult. The stadium was full and they are really good at home. It was not easy.”

“The result looks like a big defeat but I believe that we had started well. They scored the first goal when we were having our best period, then we managed to draw, but the referee disallowed the goal. They scored the goal to make it 2-0 and then the match changed.”

Toni was left disappointed by referee Emidio Morganti’s decision to penalise him, maintaining that he did not commit a foul on the Napoli goalkeeper.

“Honestly, I didn’t see De Sanctis come out. If he would have saved it, he could have done,” he said.

“I don’t think I can get higher than him with my arms. Of course these kind of goals can be given or not by the referee, but unfortunately he didn’t give it to us.”

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri was delighted not just with beating Juventus, but also the accomplished manner in which his team secured the result.

“We have had many good wins but this one can be considered special because of the quality of the opposition,” Mazzarri said.

“We have played well against Juventus during the last year as this is the third consecutive win.”

“The team played an almost perfect match. It’s a pleasure to see how the goals were created and how Napoli played. As a coach, this is what makes me so proud.”