Osimhen’s Goal Shoots Napoli To second In Seria A

Super Eagles creative striker Victor Osimhen has returned to action with a bang since November 21 for Italian side Napoli with a goal in the 59th minute.

Napoli’s 2-0 win at Venezia gave their league title hopes a huge boost.

It was the first goal in Serie A since October 2021 and his sixth in the current campaign.

Osimhen opened scoring in the 59th minute and was substituted with a minute left to play.

Nigerian stars David Okereke and Tyronne Ebuehi featured for Venezia with the latter later red-carded.

The win moves Napoli to second on 52 points, just a point behind leaders Inter Milan.

Osimhen returned after suffering multiple facial fractures in a clash of heads.

Osimhen’s early attempt was deflected over the bar, while Matteo Politano’s half-volley after a Giovanni Di Lorenzo knockdown skimmed the woodwork.

There was a bizarre incident in the early part of the second half when Ebuehi accidentally ran into the referee, the clash of heads left both in need of patching up for nasty cuts.

Napoli took the lead when Politano whipped a ball to the back post where Osimhen peeled away from his marker to steer the header back across the face of goal into the far top corner.

In stoppages Ebuehi saw a straight red card following a VAR on-field review for his very high tackle on Dries Mertens.

After a lengthy period of stoppages due to the VAR and head injuries, Napoli went on the counter when Lobotka won it back from Fiordilino, Mertens saw his shot parried into the path of Andrea Petagna who made it 2-0 in 10 minutes of added time.