GENOA: Napoli registered a hard-fought 2-1 win at Genoa during their Serie A match on Saturday after first-half goals by Andre-Frank Zambo Ang­u­issa and Amir Rrahmani plus crucial saves from Alex Meret.

Anguissa and Rrahmani netted powerful headers and Meret’s heroics helped end Genoa’s six-game unbeaten run.

Napoli lead the standings on 38 points from 17 games, one point ahead of Atalanta who have a match in hand and next face Empoli. Genoa are 14th with 16 points, two points above the relegation zone.

Napoli dominated the first half as Anguissa put Napoli ahead after 15 minutes, rising highest to send his header into the net helped by a deflection.

Eight minutes later, Rrahmani doubled the lead with a looping header from a set piece that found the top corner.

Andrea Pinamonti saw his shot saved as Meret pulled off a spectacular block early in the second half but the striker did pull one back for Genoa six minutes after the break.

Genoa dominated much of the second half, with Meret forced into a quick reaction save following a dangerous header from Milan Badelj not long after the hour mark.

In the dying moments of the match, Meret was called into action again, making a crucial fingertip save to deny substitute Caleb Ekuban as he attempted to tap in a cross.

“In another situation we would be crying bitter tears,” said Napoli coach Antonio Conte.

In Saturday’s late game, Lazio defeated 10-man Lecce 2-1 to move into fourth place on 34 points.

The win came six days after Lazio were humbled 6-0 at home by Inter Milan.

Lecce’s French full-back Frederic Guilbert was red-carded on the stroke of half-time for handball on the goalline.

Valentin Castellanos, back from suspension, tuc­ked away the resulting pe­n­alty to give Lazio the lead. Tete Morente levelled the score on the 50-minute mark before Adam Mar­usic grabbed the winner for Lazio in the dying moments.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2024