Giovanni Simeone was Napoli’s hero as the substitute netted just four minutes time to earn a 2-1 victory over Roma.
It looked like the spoils would be shared after Stephan El Shaarawy’s late equaliser, but the striker had other ideas as he moved his side 13 points clear in top spot.
The hosts forced Rui Patricio into a smart early save through Khvicha Kvaraskhelia’s low shot, before they were nearly left red-faced shortly afterwards when Kim Min-Jae came close to netting an own goal with a flicked header that clipped the post.
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That was as perilous as things got all evening for Luciano Spalletti’s side though, as they took the lead shortly afterwards through a stunning Victor Osimhen volley that hundred into the roof of the net.
Piotr Zielinski forced a further stop out of Patricio before the break, another fierce strike that was beaten away, while Alex Meret was forced into a fine stop by Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola in injury time at the other end.
Both teams wasted chances at the start of the second half, Kvaratskhelia for Napoli and Nicola Zalewski for the visitors, before Meret was called into action once more as he made a full-stretch save from Bryan Cristante.
Patricio then prevented Hirving Lozano from making it 2-0 as he tipped over the bar after a rapid counter-attack, and he was made to pay when substitute El Shaarawy levelled from Nicola Zalewski’s deep cross on 75 minutes remaining.
That looked enough to earn the visitors a point, but Simeone, who had only been on the field for 10 minutes, bagged the winner when he turned and curled into the top corner from just inside the box.
TALKING POINT – Napoli just keep going
It’s a sign of Napoli’s mentality this season that despite having a significant lead at the top of Serie A, they had no interest in settling for a point.
Indeed, Roma would have been good value for a draw, such was the strength of their second half display, but the hosts showed great resilience to hold on – and then get a winner out of nothing.
This victory leaves them 13 points clear at the top of Serie A, and with Juventus’ deduction meaning they have no chance of finishing top, a first title since 1989/90 is now a formality.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Victor Osimhen (Napoli). Who else could it be, than the striker who led the line so wonderfully and broke the deadlock with that stunning first-half goal?
The Nigerian international, who has now equalled his tally of 14 Serie A strikes in 2021/22, was superb throughout, chasing down every lost cause and not allowing the Roma defence a moment’s peace.
On top of that, his goal was absolutely sublime, showing incredible composure to chest the ball down, use his thigh to keep the ball away from the defence and then thunder home on his third touch.
PLAYER RATINGS
NAPOLI: Meret 8; Di Lorenzo 7, Rrahmani 6, Kim, Rui 8; Anguissa 6, Lobotka 6, Zielinski 7; Lozano 7, Osimhen 8, Kvaratskhelia 8. Subs: Elmas 6, Olivera 6, Simeone 7, Raspadori n/a, Ndombele n/a
Subs: Marfella, Gollini, Bereszynski, Ostigard, Jesus, Gaetano, Demme, Zedadka, Politano, Zerbin
ROMA: Patricio 8; Mancini 7, Smalling 7, Ibanez 6; Spinazzola 6, Cristante 6, Matic 6, Zalewski 7; Pellegrini 5, Abraham 5, Dybala 6. Subs: El Shaarawy 7, Belotti n/a, Bove n/a, Tahirovic n/a, Volpato n/a
Subs: Svilar, Boer, Kumbulla, Vina, Camara, Solbakken
KEY MOMENTS
12’ NEARLY AN OWN GOAL! Crikey, that was close! A long ball over the top towards Tammy Abraham. Alex Meret comes off his line to try and punch clear, only for his defender Kim Min-Jae to flick it backwards. The ball clips the post and goes agonisingly wide
17’ GOAL! NAPOLI 1-0 ROMA (Osimhen). OH MY DAYS! That is SENSATIONAL! Kvaratskhelia clips a deep ball to the back post, where Osimhen chests it down, keeps it in the air with his thigh and then thunders the volley into the roof of the net from the corner of the six yard box. Sublime.
45+3’ EXCELLENT MERET STOP. That’s as close as Roma have come! A brilliant move down the right ends in Dybala crossing to the back post, where it’s met by Leonardo Spinazzola, who has a fierce shot beaten away by Meret
75’ GOAL! NAPOLI 1-1 ROMA (El Shaarawy). It has been coming! El Shaarawy is on hand at the back post to prod home a stunning right-wing cross. It was put on a plate for him by Zalewski
86’ GOAL! NAPOLI 2-1 ROMA (Simeone). Out of nothing, Napoli are back in front! A third goal of the season for Simeone, who with four minutes to go brilliantly curls into the top corner from just inside the area!
KEY STATS
- Napoli remain unbeaten at home this season, where they have won nine times and drawn just once
- Roma are now without a win in their last seven clashes with Napoli, losing five of those fixtures
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