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Dries Mertens turned 30 on Saturday, and got Napoli’s match with Cagliari started right on the same day with a neat little second-minute goal.
Mertens! He needs just 2 minutes to score his 23rd goal of the season on his 30th birthday. 1-0 #NapoliCagliari pic.twitter.com/yZequSktit
— Stereo Serie A Radio (@StereoSerieA) May 6, 2017
Is it the prettiest goal Napoli have ever scored? No. But it’s nice to see a simple bit of attacking play like that — a leading cross from Faouzi Ghoulam to set Mertens free behind the defense — pay off in such delightful fashion.
It was Mertens’ 23rd goal of the season, and his 29th goal in all competitions. It was also Napoli’s 100th goal, an auspicious and impressive number that deserves celebration.