The Parthenopean faithful at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona were left shell shocked on Sunday evening as a resilient Bologna side snatched a dramat...
The Parthenopean faithful at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona were left shell shocked on Sunday evening as a resilient Bologna side snatched a dramatic 3 2 victory from the jaws of a Napoli comeback. For long stretches of this Serie A encounter, it appeared Antonio Conte. �s men would complete a stirring rally from two goals down. However, the powers that be at the Franchi had other ideas, and it was the Nigerian international. �s teammate, the clinical Joshua Zirkzee, who set the platform for a stunning finale before a sensational strike from Lewis Rowe silenced the home crowd. From the opening exchanges, Bologna gave a good account of themselves, pressing high and forcing errors from the Napoli backline. The visitors took the lion. �s share of possession in the first half and deservedly went ahead through a well worked move that ended with Zirkzee slotting home. The second goal came shortly after the interval, a thunderous effort from Riccardo Orsolini that left Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret with no chance. At that point, the match seemed done and dusted, but the Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen had other plans. The Nigerian international rose highest to meet a corner kick and powered a header into the net, reducing the deficit and injecting life into the home side. Napoli then drew level through a penalty converted by Matteo Politano after a VAR review for a handball in the box. The stadium erupted, and the momentum was firmly with the Azzurri. Yet, in the scheme of things, Bologna showed remarkable character. With just under ten minutes remaining, substitute Lewis Rowe collected the ball thirty yards from goal, took a touch to steady himself, and unleashed a ferocious drive that arrowed into the top corner. It was a strike of the highest quality, one that left the Napoli defence and their fans in utter disbelief. At the end of the day, this result throws Antonio Conte. �s top four ambitions into serious doubt. Napoli now sit five points behind fourth placed Juventus with only nine matches remaining. For Conte, a manager accustomed to silverware, the failure to secure maximum points from such a commanding position will be a bitter pill to swallow. The performance of Osimhen, though his goal was a moment of brilliance, was not enough to inspire a full turnaround. The Nigerian striker cut a frustrated figure in the closing stages as his teammates ran out of ideas against a well drilled Bologna rearguard. Back home in Lagos, at the popular Viewing Centre in Surulere, the atmosphere was electric. Fans who had gathered to watch the match on the big screen were initially jubilant when Osimhen. �s header hit the back of the net, with chants of. �Osimhen! Osimhen!. � ringing out across the hall. When Politano scored the equaliser, plastic bottles of soft drinks were raised in celebration. But Rowe. �s late winner brought a sudden hush, followed by groans and the shaking of heads. Many supporters shouted at the screen, questioning the defending on the second goal, while others simply packed their bags and trudged home quietly, muttering about another opportunity lost for the Parthenopeans. The debate over Conte. �s tactical approach will certainly rage on in the motor parks and barbershops of Abuja and Onitsha this week.
