Osimhen on target as Napoli beat Empoli

Published February 27, 2023
NAPOLI’S Victor Osimhen (L) and Ardian Ismajli of Empoli vie for the ball during their Serie A match at the Stadio comunale Carlo Castellani Stadium.—AFP
NAPOLI’S Victor Osimhen (L) and Ardian Ismajli of Empoli vie for the ball during their Serie A match at the Stadio comunale Carlo Castellani Stadium.—AFP

EMPOLI: A goal by striker Victor Osimhen and an own goal by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli earned 10-man Napoli a 2-0 away win in Serie A on Saturday, extending their lead over second-placed Inter Milan to a staggering 18 points.

Napoli, who have kept a clean sheet in their last four league matches for a second time under coach Luciano Spalletti, remain top of the standings on 65 points.Napoli dominated the clash from the outset and pushed mid-table Empoli enough to pressure Ismajli into opening the scoring with an own goal in the 17th minute.

Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent a lofted pass from the edge of the box to midfielder Piotr Zielinski who saw Osimhen in front of goal but before his cross could reach the striker, Ismajli put the ball in.

Liam Henderson Napoli keeper Alex Meret.

Osimhen made it 2-0 for Napoli just before the half-hour mark, tapping in a rebound from close range after Empoli keeper Guglielmo Vicario had parried a strike by Kvaratskhelia right into the Nigerian’s path.

The Nigerian striker has now scored in each of his last eight Serie A games, becoming the first player to score in eight Italian top-flight appearances in a row since Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese netted 11 in 2019-20.

The visitors were left with 10 men in the 67th minute after defender Mario Rui received a direct red for a foul on Empoli striker Francesco Caputo.

Empoli, winless in their last five outings, are 12th on 28 points.

Napoli next host Lazio on Friday, while Empoli travel to 11th-placed Monza the following day.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

All out
Updated 25 Feb, 2025

All out

PAKISTAN cricket captain Mohammad Rizwan’s assessment was brutal — it could not have been any other way. At ...
Bearing the brunt
25 Feb, 2025

Bearing the brunt

FOR the past several months, we have repeatedly been told by the prime minister and his cabinet that the government...
Afghan resettlement
25 Feb, 2025

Afghan resettlement

AFGHAN refugees who fled their country after the Taliban took over in 2021, and who hoped to resettle in the West,...
Taliban divisions
Updated 24 Feb, 2025

Taliban divisions

The only workable solution lies in Mullah Akhundzada loosening his iron grip on the country.
Oblivious to drought
24 Feb, 2025

Oblivious to drought

PAKISTAN faces two types of drought: one caused by dry weather or lower-than-normal rainfall, and the other ...
Digital children
24 Feb, 2025

Digital children

AS most parents with young children will agree, the easiest way to pacify a bawling child is to hand them a...