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Napoli escape Udinese on penalties

Napoli survived a thrilling clash with Udinese in order to live to fight another day in the defence of their Coppa Italia crowd.

Rafa Benitez's men won through 5-4 on penalties after being locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and then 2-2 following extra-time.

Cyril Thereau put Udinese ahead in the 58th minute but Jorginho equalised seven minutes later and Napoli gained the advantage when Silvan Widmer was sent off 60 seconds later.

Udinese dug in for extra time, though, and even when Marek Hamsik's penalty in the 99th minute looked to have finished them off, they roared back through Panagiotis Kone in the 104th minute.

But Napoli got the job done from the spot, Gonzalo Higuain scoring after Marques Allan missed.