🥹 Lukaku scores in tears, Napoli win late, Verona near relegation | OneFootball

Napoli scores at the beginning and at the end, and in between plays a highly questionable match, but that's enough to beat Verona 2-1 and consolidate their Champions League spot.

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Antonio Conte stays afloat thanks to his two strikers. Rasmus Hojlund at the start, Romelu Lukaku at the end of the match, scoring his first goal after injury and getting emotional.

🧨 2-1 Napoli at the last second, Lukaku is back

Napoli is very chaotic at the end, but in the final action they incredibly find the winning goal with the two substitutes: Giovane and Lukaku.

Short play from the last corner, it leads to a cross from the Brazilian, and Big Rom gets ahead of his marker and finds the net. 281 days later, the Belgian returns to scoring and saves the Azzurri’s weekend. He celebrates by taking off his shirt and then tears flow, probably not just as a release after the long absence but also for his father, who passed away months ago.

😱 Meret ERROR, Napoli at risk

In the 92nd minute, Napoli gives away a crazy chance while trying to regain the lead due to a mistake by Meret.

The goalkeeper tries to come out to punch away a cross from the right, but misses. At the far post, Mosquera gets there but can't find the target.

💥 Akpa-Akpro equalizes, Napoli protests: the reason

In the 65th minute, Verona equalizes, and once again Napoli concedes a goal. Following a corner, Hojlund’s clearance is picked up by Akpa-Akpro, who shoots first time and the ball is deflected by the Napoli striker. There are protests over the decision to award the corner and also for a possible offside position by Frese. Conte is also booked for protesting.

This is Marelli’s comment: "There was a push by Frese on Buongiorno, so it should not have been a corner. At the moment of the goal, Frese is offside: he doesn't impact the goalkeeper's view, but he could affect Hojlund's. The decision is up to the referee."

🚑 Bella-Kotchap injury

In the 55th minute, Bella-Kotchap leaves the field due to injury. The Verona defender, after a clash with Hojlund, touches his left hamstring and asks to be substituted. Frese comes on in his place.

😤 1-0 at 45': Bentegodi boos, Conte nervous

The first half ends with the score at 1-0. Verona stays cautious even after going behind and is booed by the fans as they leave the field.

However, even Antonio Conte is not satisfied with how Napoli managed their lead. Too passive, not dangerous enough. The coach demanded more with broad gestures.

😬 Hojlund chance, Edmundsson saves

Napoli plays most of the first half at a low tempo, but in the 37th minute they create a chance through Spinazzola and Hojlund.

The winger plays a vertical ball to the striker, who goes around Montipò and shoots on target. Edmundsson reads the play well and intervenes before the ball can cross the line.

⚡️ Hojlund right away! Great headed goal

Napoli breaks the deadlock immediately with Rasmus Hojlund. In the 2nd minute, Politano crosses from the right byline, the defense clears, but the striker scores a great goal, heading the ball almost from a standstill with a trajectory that loops over Montipò.

13th goal of the season for the Neapolitan striker and 9th in this Serie A. Signs of growth from the Dane.

🗣️ Conte’s words

Antonio Conte, Napoli’s coach, spoke to DAZN shortly before the match against Verona. Here are his words. 

"With Atalanta, the attitude was not lacking, then the result is another matter. Against Verona too, attitude must matter. In these 12 games we have to write our future for next year, but in terms of desire and determination, I have nothing to say to my players.

Changed wingers? I changed them because before the match with Atalanta, Mazzocchi and Gutierrez were physically much better than Spinazzola and Politano. We have to play the game from the start, I saw them in good shape and I changed them. 

Anguissa? I don’t know how long it will take, but the fact that he’s back with the group gives him an important chance mentally. Frank has been out for more than 3 months and you can’t imagine. Names won’t play, those who give me guarantees will play, and keep that in mind. We’re playing for our future next year and I’ll try to choose well based on what I see."

✅ Official lineups

VERONA (3-5-2): Montipò; Edmundsson, Nelsson, Bella-Kotchap; Oyekoge, Akpa-Akpro, Gagliardini, Harroui, Bradaric; Bowie, Sarr.

NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Politano, Lobotka, Elmas, Spinazzola; Vergara, Alisson Santos; Hojlund.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 PIERO CRUCIATTI - AFP or licensors