Pro Sports

5 for 5: Napoli beats Sampdoria 4-0 to extend perfect start

Posted September 23, 2021 7:00 am

By ANDREW DAMPF

Napoli's Fabian Ruiz, 2nd from right, celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Napoli, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Five matches. Five wins.

Victor Osimhen scored twice, Hirving Lozano helped set up three goals and Napoli impressed in a 4-0 win at Sampdoria on Thursday to extend its perfect start to Serie A.

Chasing its first Italian league title since Diego Maradona led the Partenopei to their only championships in 1987 and 1990, Napoli returned to the top of the standings, two points ahead of defending champion Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Sampdoria held Inter to a draw this month and was seen as a potential obstacle for Napoli but Luciano Spalletti's team controlled from the start.

Osimhen started things off when he pushed in a cross from Lorenzo Insigne at the far post, having already come close minutes earlier.

Passes from Lozano and Insigne set up Napoli's second for Fabian Ruiz from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Osimhen then needed only one touch to redirect a Lozano cross from the center of the area.

Lozano also had the assist when Piotr Zielinski pounded in another for Napoli, on a play started by the newly acquired midfielder AndrÃ© Anguissa, who is on loan from Fulham.

IMMOBILE EQUALIZER

Ciro Immobile converted a penalty in stoppage time to earn Lazio a 1-1 draw at Torino.

A header from Mark Pjaca had put Torino ahead in the 76th.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

___

Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Napoli, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti shouts during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Napoli, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Thuesday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Napoli, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Thuesday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, takes and Sampdoria's Morten Thorsby vie for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Napoli, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Torino coach Ivan Juric waits for the start of the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Lazio at the Turin Olympic stadium, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.