VIDEO: Gonzalo Higuain misses penalty, Napoli miss out on Champions League qualification

The surreal unfolded under the lights of the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.

Nothing less than three points would allow Napoli to qualify for next season's Champions League as they hosted a Lazio side that went into the match possessing the third and final Serie A berth.

After going into the interval trailing by two goals, Rafael Benitez's side pulled one back when Gonzalo Higuain tapped a precision-perfect pass from Jose Callejon across the goal line. Higuain then scored an equaliser in the 55th minute, taking advantage of a red card that was issued to Lazio's Marco Parolo moments earlier.

The comeback was nearly complete. Napoli just needed one more goal to book their place in the next edition of European football's most prestigious club competition, and the opportunity arrived when they were awarded a controversial penalty after Christian Maggio was brought down in Lazio's box.

With the chance to complete his hat trick and put Napoli on the brink of Champions League qualification, Higuain stepped up to the spot ...

As silence consumed the Stadio San Paolo, Lazio scored two goals in the match's final moments to secure their place in the 2015-16 Champions League, leaving Higuain and Napoli supporters to daydream about what could have been.

It's also worth noting that Napoli will miss out on the financial benefits that come with Champions League football.

How many points did Napoli carelessly throw away this season? Should Higuain, who entered the match having missed four of his eight penalties this season, have been the one take the decisive shot?

So many questions, but never a dull moment in Serie A.