Victor Osimhen scored and got an assist which was not enough as Napoli fell to a 3-2 home defeat to Fiorentina in Sunday’s Serie A game, Completesports.com reports.
It is a blow to Napoli’s title hopes as a win against Fiorentina would have taken Luciano Spalletti’s side to top on the log.
The defeat means Napoli are now in third place on 66 points, same points with Inter and one point behind leaders AC Milan. Both Inter and AC Milan are yet to play.
Osimhen set up Napoli’s equalizer which was scored by Dries Merten before getting the second late in the game which turned out to be a consolation goal.
It is Osimhen’s 12th goal in his second season in the Italian topflight.
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Fiorentina opened scoring in the 29th minute through Nicolas Gonzalez who slotted in with a great finish inside the box.
In the 58th minute Napoli equalized thanks to Dries Mertens who was picked out just outside the box.
But just eight minutes after Napoli equalizer, Fiorentina were back in front through Jonathan Ikone.
Napoli poured forward for the equalizer but conceded again this time in the 73rd minute as Arthur Cabral went in a superb curler.
In the 84th minute Osimhen reduced the deficit after bringing the ball down with his chest and fired past the Fiorentina keeper.
All efforts to salvage at least a point was not to be as Fiorentina held on to claim the three points.
And in another Serie A game, Isaac Success helped Udinese defeat Venezia that paraded Nigerian duo Tyronne Ebuehi and David Okereke.
While it is now back-to-back wins for Udinese, it is a sixth consecutive defeats for Venezia who are in 18th place on 22 points, just three points from safety.
Success came on in the 69th while Okereke was introduced in the 58th minute. Ebuehi who was on from the start for Venezia came off on 58 minutes.
By James Agberebi
9 Comments
I hope NAPOLI gets to WIN the TITLE at the END…
It will HELP give our BOY some PRESTIGE..
At this point, for that to happen, they just have to win ALL— and I mean, ALL— of their remaining fixtures… No more slip-ups; if indeed they’re SERIOUS about the Scudetto.
AND, while at it, they MUST hope the Milan duo drop valuable points.
Anything outside of these conditions…..then, they’ll have to settle for a Champions League spot… that is, if Juve don’t come through with another shocker from the rear
Wow that will be really TOUGH…
That’s just the current situation of things. Their best mathematical chance right now, is to win ALL remaining games on sight
“OSIMHEN brought DOWN the ball with his CHEST and fired past the Fiorentina goalkeeper”
Against GHANA he forgot where his CHEST was and twice went for AUDACIOUS efforts in such a high octane game.
People old enough to be his father… legend in their own right, tried to draw his attention and he disrespectfully and disdainfully insulted them publicly!
Shior…
Why can’t the pundit Isọnu call out the clueless coach instead of singling out Osimhen?? Why can’t he blame the coach for leaving Osimhen by himself for 80 minutes against 3 Ghana defenders?? Why can’t he ask how did the clueless coach not know that Ghana have switched their tactics in the second half until a player told him?? Osimhen remains one of our best ambassadors in European elite football at the moment with great potentials. Let them leave the boy alone to focus on his career. We lost the WorldCup ticket not because of the players after all it was the line up clamored for by all the isọnu pundits the coach adhered to instead of using his own mind. Why make 5 changes to a team that battled for a goalless draw in Kumasi?? It’s a good thing that we failed woefully because we never had a plan.
@Ayphillydegreat, be careful of what you say in a public place.
Are you encouraging Osimhen for his reply to Mr. Ikpeba or you think Osimhen was in a good position for that bicycle kick?
You are matured enough to know that Osimhen reactions wasn’t acceptable.
Osimhen should be careful of his attitude. Am highly disappointed in Osimhen for his comment.
Please AY, let’s be mindful of our words. What legacy do you want to leave behind you as a man if you are encouraging Osimhen for his actions? Think about it. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Gbẹnu oṣi sọun!! Another Agbaya Isọnu. Na where una lead us to we Dey. Keep sulking on your failures. Young shall grow. Osimhen did his best it’s your clueless local content that doesn’t know Jack.
Though to be frank Osihmen did not use the right words but My brother if u watch the first leg u LL observe that Osihmen could not do any heading because he was outmaked that’s why he had to resort to that bycicle kick to take the defenders unaware but unfortunately it didn’t work out. The coach was supposed to use two strickers in that match so Osihmen would be free