Birthday boy helps send Napoli 16 points clear

MILAN, Feb w13: On the day of his 22nd birthday, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the 22nd minute to help send Napoli 16 points clear at the top of Serie A.
Victor Osimhen and Elif Elmas wrapped up the points in the second half as Napoli beat Cremonese 3-0 on Sunday to avenge its Italian Cup defeat.
Inter Milan can cut the gap to Napoli to 13 points with a win at Sampdoria on Monday. Cremonese remained rock bottom of Serie A, 11 points from safety.
Cremonese pulled off a big upset when it won at Napoli on penalties in the Italian Cup last month. It then went on to eliminate Roma and reach the semifinals for only the second time in its history.
But it hadn’t won in the league all season and its chances of getting anything from Sunday’s match diminished in the 22nd minute.
Defender Leonardo Sernicola tried to head a cross away for a corner but it fell to Kvaratskhelia, who cut inside from the left, carved out some space and drilled across into the far corner. Osimhen had scored in his last five matches and he made it six straight with probably the easiest of his 17 league goals this season. Cremonese goalkeeper Carnesecchi managed to get a hand to Lorenzo’s header from a corner but Kim Min-jae’s diving header turned into an assist for Osimhen to tap in from practically on the goal line. Elmas netted in the 79th, with an angled drive into the far bottom corner, eight minutes after coming off the bench.(AP)