Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen played a pivotal role on Sunday in Napoli’s remarkable comeback victory against Monza.
Napoli scored three goals in just six minutes during the second half, securing a 4-2 win and keeping their hopes of a top-four finish in Serie A alive.
The match started with Milan Duric scoring the opening goal for Monza nine minutes into the game. Despite Napoli’s efforts to equalize, Monza’s goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, made crucial saves to maintain their lead until halftime.
The second half saw a flurry of goals, with five scored in just 13 minutes at the Stadio Brianteo. Napoli initiated their comeback with Osimhen’s impressive header ten minutes into the second half. However, Osimhen’s jump was so high that he landed awkwardly on his face, requiring brief medical attention before resuming play.
Napoli began their comeback 10 minutes into the second half, when Osimhen rose so high to nod in the equaliser that he landed on his face, requiring a brief moment of treatment before continuing.
Two minutes later, Matteo Politano unleashed a perfectly executed left-footed volley from outside the box, finding the far right corner and leaving the stadium stunned by the display.
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With Monza in disarray, Napoli secured their third goal in the 61st minute, when Piotr Zielinski unleashed a shot from distance that struck the underside of the bar and found the net.
Andrea Colpani demonstrated that Monza could also produce impressive goals by curling a shot into the corner a minute later to keep alive the home fans’ hopes.
Giacomo Raspadori scored Napoli’s fourth goal after 68 minutes, less than a minute after being substituted, by sending in the rebound from a save by Di Gregorio.
“They were spectacular goals but I like to underline Raspadori’s goal because he believed to the end.
“Strikers must have that instinct to attack the goal even when it seems unlikely that the ball will come to him,” he stated. The defending champions sit seventh in the league with 48 points, 10 behind fourth-placed Bologna, who drew 0-0 at Frosinone earlier on Sunday. Monza ranks 11th with 42 points.
Napoli are in a difficult position on the table, trailing both AS Roma and Atalanta, who are in fifth and sixth place with 55 and 50 points, respectively. Atalanta has two games in hand before facing Cagliari later on Sunday.
Coach Francesco Calzona chose not to discuss how Napoli’s season could end. “We are compelled to take it one game at a time because it doesn’t only depend on us.”
“We have to keep winning and maintain some hope of finishing in the top spots.
“If we play like the second half, we can have hope but not if we play like we did in the first half,” he said.
Calzona said he had had a serious talk with the players during the break.
“During halftime we talked, we discussed the problems, tried to resolve them. The lads got the message but it’s not just today, I’ve been saying this for a long time,” said the coach.
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