The Partenopei delivered a masterclass in clinical attacking football on Friday night, dismantling a hapless Cremonese side by four goals to nil at th...
The Partenopei delivered a masterclass in clinical attacking football on Friday night, dismantling a hapless Cremonese side by four goals to nil at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. In a performance that sent a clear message to the rest of Serie A, Napoli drew the lion's share of possession and converted their chances with ruthless efficiency, leaving the visitors with no room to breathe. GoalZaza can report that the evening belonged to midfield generals Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay, who powered the rout with two goals apiece. The Belgian international opened the scoring with a trademark drive from outside the box, bending the ball beyond the reach of the Cremonese goalkeeper. McTominay, in his new azure jersey, then doubled the lead with a towering header from a corner kick, leaving the home fans in a frenzy. In the scheme of things, Napoli's resilience in midfield was the difference. The Scottish midfielder added a third before half time, slotting home after a clever through ball from the Nigerian international Victor Osimhen, who was making life difficult for the Cremonese defence with his relentless running. The Super Eagles talisman, though not on the scoresheet, gave a good account of himself and created the space for his teammates to flourish. De Bruyne rounded off the scoring with a low, driven shot in the second half, and the match was effectively over as a contest. At the end of the day, the powers that be at Napoli will be delighted with the depth in their squad. The margin of victory could have been wider, but the clean sheet and the dominant display will be the real takeaway for the coach. The visiting Cremonese side, for all their efforts, simply could not cope with the pace and precision of the home team's passing. Back home in Nigeria, the reaction was electric. At viewing centres in Surulere and around the Ikeja axis of Lagos, fans were on their feet, waving their scarves and chanting Osimhen's name after every attack. In Abuja, supporters in the Wuse district debated at the top of their voices whether McTominay or De Bruyne deserved the man of the match award, with many insisting that the Nigerian international's unselfish work rate was the true engine behind the victory. The atmosphere, as they say, was truly one of celebration and optimism for the season ahead.
