February 06, (THEWILL) – Victor Osimhen returned to goal-scoring form, with a fantastic header and a late Andrea Petagna score that handed Napoli a crucial 2-0 victory over Venezia at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo on Sunday.
Hirving Lozano, Axel Tuanzebe, and Adam Ounas were all injured, while Kalidou Koulibaly and Zambo Anguissa were still at the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations but the I Partenopei welcomed back Osinhem, who had not started for the side since the November 21 tie against Milan where he suffered facial fractures that required surgery and recovery.
There were several players still suffering from a COVID infection within the ranks of the hosts as the Venezia side was without Antonio Vacca Junior, Sofian Kiyine, and Ullmann.
Following the passing of former President Maurizio Zamparini last week, the Lagunari wore black armbands and observed a minute of silence before kick-off.
Within a few minutes, Matteo Politano’s half-volley after a Giovanni Di Lorenzo knockdown grazed the post, while Osimhen’s early shot was deflected over the bar as the Nigerian showed signs of returning to his clinical best.
Nigerian defender Tyronne Ebuehi saw his rebound effort go close as well, but Osimhen grazed the outside of the near post from a tricky angle.
David Okereke ran away from Juan Jesus down the left and cut inside, forcing a desperate save from David Ospina and a mad scramble to prevent a tap-in.
Ebuehi accidently ran into the referee at the start of the second half, the collision of heads leaving both with serious cuts that required tending.
Politano blasted a pass to the back post, where Osimhen peeled away from his man to direct the header back across the face of goal and into the far top corner. To go with the protective mask, he celebrated with a Mark of Zorro gesture.
Ebuehi’s day went from bad to worse as he was given a straight red card in stoppage time following a VAR on-field review for a high foul on Dries Mertens.
After a protracted stretch of stoppages due to VAR and head injuries, Napoli went on the counter when Lobotka won possession from Fiordilino, and Mertens had his shot parried into the path of Andrea Petagna, who found the back of the net in the final moments of the stretched out extra time.
The victory brings Luciano Spalletti’s side to second behind League leaders Inter though level on points with third-placed AC Milan on 52 points. It leaves Napoli one point behind Inter even though Stefano Pioli’s team have a game in hand.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
