Napoli, who won the scudetto a year ago, wrote another chapter of their disappointing season today by claiming victory in extra time against an Udinese in a desperate situation to avoid relegation (1- 1).
Victor Osimhen he advanced to Napoli with his 15th goal in Serie A, but Isaac’s victory He salvaged a crucial draw for Udinese, who nevertheless remain in third-to-last place, two points clear of relegation with three games remaining.
Cannavaro against his former team
Udinese confirmed its status as kings of the draw by drawing for the 18th time in the Italian championship and going seven games without a win, the third since coming off the bench. Fabio Cannavaro, who now faces the team where he began his career as a player.
Naples, nothing Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Zielinski and Raspadori, It is eighth, a place that would qualify for the Conference League, but it is five points behind the Europa League and has no chance of getting into the Champions League as it is nine points behind Atalanta (5th).
Disappointing at first
The group of Francesco Calzona He was completely disappointed in the first half. They had full control of the ball but were unable to overwhelm, either outside or inside, a compact Udinese who focused on defense and relied on the counterattack.
Napoli’s weakness was that they didn’t have a single shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. The first arrival came from Udinese in the 34th minute. Amir Rrahmani For the first time, he blocked a point-blank shot from Lorenzo Lucca and, in denial, Lazar Samardzic He fired a deliberate shot which the squad sought without success.
Before the break, after a corner, the centerl Jaka Bijol He gave Napoli another threat with a cross shot on the turn that went near the post.
Great header from Osimhen
In the second half, Napoli came out with more determination and put more pace into their game. Already in the first moments Jens-Lys Cayud finally forced to intervene Maduka Okoye and soon Osimhen’s great goal came.
It is in a center Matteo Politano from the right the Nigerian striker graduated srising between central defenders Bijol and Joao Ferreira with a tight header against the post (53′). It was his 15th Serie A goal.
Cannavaro immediately reacted by introducing himself Isaac Tagumpay and Keinan Davis, who just entered had two consecutive chances that were stopped by defender Leo Ostigard and goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Goal not allowed for Osimhen and Victory draws
Udinese, with heart, pressed but Naples fought back and, now with space, had chances to score, driven by Osimhen’s ambition. The Nigerian actually scored again on a counterattack with a good cross shot but the goal was disallowed at the request of VAR since he received from Stanislav Lobotka by a millimeter offside.
Now without Osimhen, replaced by discomfort, Napoli let what would have been their second victory in the last 8 days slip away in extra time. Samardzic crossed, Thomas Kristensen lowered his head and success, After controlling the ball in anticipation of the defense, he crossed it into the net.
The draw pleased no one but at least it helped Udinese avoid defeat and continue to dream of survival in three dramatic days.
match lineup
40
19
12
31
29
13
Eleven
6
17
24
22
1
22
17
68
13
55
99
24
9
twenty-one
29
Bluenergy Stadium
Alex Meret1
68′
Giovanni DiLorenzo22
86′
Mathias Olivera17
Stanislav Lobotka68
Amir Rrahmani13
Leo Ostigard55
Frank Anguissa99
Maybe Jens24
72′
53′
Victor Osimhen9
fifty’
79′
86′
Matteo Politanotwenty-one
52′
Jesper Lindström29
81′
Replacements
Nikita Contini14
Hubert Dawid Idasiak16
68′
Nathan3
John Jesus5
Mario Rui6
Pasquale Mazzocchi30
86′
Luigi D’Avinofifty
Hamed Traore8
72′
Giovanni Simeone18
86′
52′
91′
Cyril Ngonge26
81′
53′
coach
Fabio Cannavaro
Francesco Calzona
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
