Reporting Sports in a refreshing style

Osimhen’s headed goal returns Napoli to the top of Serie A log

Victor Osimhen’s towering header retained Napoli’s perfect start to the Serie A season, despite Lorenzo Insigne seeing another penalty saved and Torino thanking VAR for a narrow offside.

The Partenopei had won all seven Serie A matches so far and wanted to maintain that 100 per cent record, with Kostas Manolas, Andrea Petagna, Kevin Malcuit and Adam Ounas not fully fit. Toro had Andrea Belotti back on the bench five weeks after a sprained ankle, but Simone Zaza, Dennis Praet, Simone Verdi, Marko Pjaca, Simone Edera and Tommaso Pobega had injuries.

Napoli debuted their special edition Halloween kit, which was black with a silver spiderweb motif. Rolando Mandragora, who is from the roughest area of Naples, only lasted seven minutes before pulling up with a knee injury.

Victor Osimhen grazed the far top corner with a scorcher from the edge of the area, while Bremer’s header from a corner tested David Ospina.

Osimhen nodded a Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross over the bar, then Napoli received a penalty for a foolish Kone tackle through the back of Di Lorenzo on an Insigne free kick routine. Insigne stepped up, but it was a dreadful weak and central spot-kick that Vanja Milinkovic-Savic couldn’t help but save. He seemed to be copying Jorginho’s famous hop, skip and jump run-up, but it was his third miss out of five attempted penalties this season.

Toro were relieved and Ospina made a one-handed save on Josip Brekalo at the near post, while Milinkovic-Savic used his legs to parry Kalidou Koulibaly’s attempt from 11 yards.

Antonio Sanabria should’ve done better on the counter, drilling wide in a three against two counter-attack.

Napoli had the ball in the net on 56 minutes with another smart free kick routine, Mario Rui whipping the ball across the six-yard box for Di Lorenzo’s header. However, after a very long VAR check, it was ruled marginally offside.

The Partenopei were cursing their luck again moments later, as Chucky Lozano’s angled drive beat Milinkovic-Savic only to bounce off the base of the far post.

Torino had a huge chance too, Josip Brekalo dribbling through two defenders to be denied by Ospina from point-blank range.

May be an image of 8 people and people standing

Read Also: EPL: Newcastle vs Tottenham paused due to medical emergency

Andrea Belotti made his comeback five weeks after badly spraining his ankle, and Toro wasted another chance with Brekalo sliding in at the back post.

Napoli finally battered their way through the Torino defences with a storming team attack. Koulibaly’s back-heel flick sent Dries Mertens down the left, his cross was charged down, then Eljif Elmas deflected the attempted clearance for the ball to bounce up and Osimhen hung in the air like a basketball player for the towering header.

Yet again, Torino saw a good performance dissipated by conceding a late goal.

You might also like

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.