ROME -- Roma beat Napoli 3-2 in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Wednesday thanks to a double from Ivory Coast forward Gervinho. Brian Robison Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. But Gervinho scored the winner two minutes from time. "In our league, ninety per cent of the matches are played defensively but its good to play like this against strong players," Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi said. "Its good to see games like this, theyre an advert for football. "It wasnt good for us mentally to concede a minute after the restart. But after they made it 2-2, we responded brilliantly. Another good game like tonights awaits us in Naples." Napoli started the brighter but it was Roma which broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Gervinho ran onto a delightful through-ball from Francesco Totti and rounded goalkeeper Pepe Reina before firing home from three meters. Strootman doubled Romas lead in the 32nd with a stunning rocket into the top right corner from more than 30 metres. Gonzalo Higuain pulled one back for Napoli a minute into the second half as the ball deflected off Mehdi Benatia and goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis got his hands to it but could not prevent it from going in. It was the former Real Madrid strikers 16th of the season. Substitute Dries Mertens levelled in the 70th, four minutes after coming off the bench, when he burst between two defenders and blasted an effort past De Sanctis. Gervinho secured the match for Roma when he collected Alessandro Florenzis pass and coolly slotted into the near side of goal. Udinese, which has eliminated both Milan teams, beat Fiorentina on Tuesday in a match which saw three wonderful goals. Antonio Di Natale broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with his first goal from open play since September but Juan Manuel Vargas smashed an effort in off the underside of the crossbar a minute from halftime. Substitute Luis Muriel scored a long-range winner for Udinese, which is hoping to reach the final for the first time since 1922. Both sides eliminated illustrious teams in the previous round. Napoli knocked out holder Lazio, while Roma defeated Juventus, which is on course for a third successive league title. Teddy Bridgewater Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota (5): He was calm, poised, and looked comfortable all game. Michael Floyd Jersey .com) - Real Madrid claimed its 20th consecutive win across all competitions by cruising to a 4-1 victory at Almeria on Friday. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Stefon-Diggs-Vikings-Jersey/ . The striker headed Spurs into a 35th-minute lead and tapped in their third in the 71st after Chico Flores own goal. Wilfried Bony hit the bar and had a good penalty appeal for a push by Tottenham captain Michael Dawson turned down in the first half, before getting Swanseas consolation late on.MONTREAL – Connor McDavid is a man of few words and, so far, few goals at the World Junior Championship. Asked to assess his play through three games, McDavid only offers up: Been alright. Does that mean he wants to be better? I guess, yeah. McDavid broke his right hand in a fight Nov. 11 and only returned to game action on Dec. 21 so there is a sense he isnt quite back up to top speed. So, how close is McDavid to being at the top of his game? Not sure, he said with a shrug. McDavid has one goal and two assists so far, all against Germany and all on the power play. The top line – Max Domi, Sam Reinhart and Anthony Duclair – has been thriving. Third-line centre Nic Petan leads the tournament in scoring with six points. Third-line winger Robby Fabbri has four points. But the second line headlined by McDavid and captain Curtis Lazar has been somewhat quiet. McDavids three-point total is certainly respectable, but the expectations are sky high for the Newmarket, Ont. native, who has 51 points in 18 OHL games this season with the Erie Otters. For most of the championship, it has been big Anaheim Ducks prospect Nick Ritchie skating on left wing on the line, despite questions about whether he was fast enough to keep up with the 17-year-old phenom. Midway through the win over Finland on Monday, though, head coach Benoit Groulx made a switch, replacing Ritchie with Jake Virtanen. That seemed to spark the group. In fact, the move worked so well that the Canadian bench boss will leave the Canucks 2014 first-round pick (sixth overall) on the line for the New Years Eve showdown against the United States. This is a big opportunity for Virtanen, an 18-year-old from Abbotsford, BC. This is a big step up for me, he readily admits. Those two guys, Curtis and Connor, are high-end guys. Im looking forward to stepping up. WATCH: Jake Virtanen chats with Ryan Rishaug about his new role and facing the Americans on New Years Eve How does Virtanen see himself fitting in? I can try and make space for them out there, he said. I know those two guys can put the puck in the net and make plays. Ill try and make space and be physical out there. But Virtanen isnt just there to create space. Also, I can make plays. I know, personally, I can play with those guys. I cant wait to get going with them. Both McDavid and Lazar mention Virtanens motor when asked about the Calgary Hitmen forward. Nick Easton Jersey. A big body and he flies out there, said McDavid in one of his longer answers during a media session on Tuesday. Hes a real presence. Im excited to play with him. Hes so powerful, Lazar said. His speed is incredible and hes tenacious on the puck. For our line, it will open up the ice a little more. Lazar, meanwhile, said he and McDavid have good chemistry, but they cant buy a goal right now at even strength. Just running into some hot goaltenders, the Ottawa Senators forward noted with his trademark smile. So maybe, just maybe, Virtanen is the man to provide the spark that lights the McDavid-Lazar powder keg. Hes certainly capable. He had 45 goals in 71 games last season. A shoulder injury required off-season surgery, which led to Virtanen getting off to a slow start this year, but hes turned it on of late with four goals in his last four WHL games, including a highlight-reel beauty in his final game before departing for Team Canadas selection camp. Virtanen kept on scoring at Canadas camp, picking up six points in two scrimmages against university selects in a performance that likely sealed his spot on the roster. Virtanen has a goal and an assist in three games so far in his world junior debut while playing mostly on the fourth line with face-off ace Frederik Gauthier and draft-eligible Lawson Crouse. Its not just speed that Virtanen brings to the top-six forward group. He also brings a bit of an edge. In the third period against Finland, Virtanen went after Alex Lintuniemi, who had elbowed Lazar up high. Just sticking up for my teammate and letting them know were not going to take that lightly, especially with our captain, Virtanen said. Jake and I were bugging Connor, said Lazar, who hails from BC just like Virtanen. He didnt want to get in there. Up to us Western guys to take care of that, I guess. Thats OK, Virtanen said with a grin. We dont need Connor to be a part of that stuff. But they do need him to score and Virtanen hopes he can help with that starting on New Years Eve against the Americans. People are always talking about this game and looking to this game and wondering whats going to happen and its an honour t