Pro Sports

Osimhen scores as Napoli moves level on points with Milan

Posted February 06, 2022 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, scores during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Napoli, at Venice's Penzo's Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

VENICE, Italy (AP) - Wearing a protective mask, striker Victor Osimhen scored on his first start since November as Napoli beat 10-man Venezia 2-0 Sunday in the Italian league to move level on points with second-place AC Milan.

Napoli and Milan trail Serie A leader Inter Milan by one point after Milan rallied late to beat its city rival 2-1 on Saturday. Inter has a game in hand.

The 23-year-old Osimhen, who suffered a serious injury in a clash of heads with Inter's Milan Skriniar in November, headed in the opening goal in the 58th minute. It was the sixth Serie A goal for the Nigeria international this season and 10th in all competitions. He returned to the squad from injury last month.

In a lively finish, defender Tyronne Ebuehi received a straight red card following a VAR review for a high tackle on Dries Mertens five minutes into stoppage time before substitute Andrea Petagna made it 2-0 another five minutes later.

Earlier in the game, Ebuehi and referee Maurizio Mariani needed both treatment after colliding on the pitch.

Venezia is 18th in the standings.

Another relegation-threatened team, Cagliari, won three important points after a 2-1 upset victory at 10-man Atalanta to move to 17th. Atalanta remains fourth.

In a game between teams hit by COVID-19, suspensions and injuries, Gaston Pereiro scored both goals for Cagliari in the 50th and 68th minutes.

Just two minutes after Pereiro's first goal, Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso downed Pereiro just outside the penalty area following a defensive blunder and was sent off.

The hosts still managed to equalize through Jose Palomino's header before Pereiro collected a perfect cross from Raoul Bellanova at the far post to stun Atalanta with his second.

In Genoa, Stefano Sensi scored for Sampdoria in a 4-0 rout of Sassuolo on his debut after joining the team on loan from Inter in January.

Francesco Caputo opened the scoring five minutes into the match against his former club, with Sensi stretching the lead two minutes later. Andrea Conti made it 3-0 in the second half before Antonio Candreva finished it off in injury time from the penalty spot.

Bologna drew 0-0 at Empoli.

Fifth-place Juventus hosts Verona and Torino plays at Udinese later Sunday.

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

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, scores during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Napoli, at Venice's Penzo's Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Claudio Martinelli/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, celebrates with his teammate Giovanni De Lorenzo after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Napoli, at Venice's Penzo's Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Claudio Martinelli/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Cagliari's Gaston Pereiro is surrounded by players after scoring his side's second goal during a Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Cagliari, in Bergamo's Gewiss Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Jose Luis Palomino celebrates after scoring the opening goal score during a Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Cagliari, in Bergamo's Gewiss Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Cagliari's Gaston Pereiro celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Cagliari, in Bergamo's Gewiss Stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Spada/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Sampdoria's Stefano Sensi, second left, scores during the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Sassuolo at the Genoa Luigi Ferraris stadium, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

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