Super Eagles sensation Victor Osimhen is back to scoring penalties, igniting hope for Napoli, but Fiorentina emerged victorious with a 3-1 triumph at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Sunday.
The Nigerian striker, Osimhen, reclaimed his penalty-taking prowess in the closing moments of the first half when he confidently converted a penalty kick, erasing the haunting memories of his miss against Bologna last month.
The Serie A clash between Napoli and Fiorentina was marked by high stakes, as a victory for the hosts would have brought them within touching distance of AC Milan, the league leaders.
However, Fiorentina had other plans, and they swiftly struck first. Josip Brekalo capitalized on a loose ball to score within the first seven minutes, setting the tone for a spirited encounter.
Napoli struggled to level the score until Osimhen played a crucial role in the home team’s resurgence. In the dying moments of the first half, he won a penalty after being tripped by Pietro Terracciano.
This moment of reckoning carried added weight as Osimhen had previously relinquished penalty-taking duties after his miss against Bologna on September 24.
His miss had even triggered controversy and online mockery from Napoli’s official social media accounts. In subsequent games, Piotr Zieliński and Matteo Politano took charge of penalty duties.
However, against Fiorentina, Osimhen showed remarkable resolve by stepping up and converting the penalty with finesse, despite goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano’s close attempt to deny the opportunity.
Osimhen’s spot-kick marked his fourth goal in as many league games, highlighting his resurgence and goal-scoring prowess from the spot.
Nonetheless, Fiorentina had a different narrative in the second half, finding the back of the net twice to secure a 3-1 away victory, dealing Napoli a big blow and their second defeat of the campaign.
The Serie A continues to deliver thrilling football action and surprises.
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