Pro Sports

Napoli revives Serie A title hopes with 2-1 win at Verona

Posted March 13, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, centre left, heads the ball to score, during the Serie A soccer match between Verona and Napoli, in Verona, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Victor Osimhen scored twice and Napoli won 2-1 at Hellas Verona on Sunday to keep Serie A leader AC Milan within reach.

The victory moved Napoli back within three points of Milan, which beat Empoli 1-0 on Saturday, while third-place Inter Milan needed an injury-time equalizer from Alexis Sanchez to salvage a 1-1 draw at Torino.

Both of Osimhen's goals started with throw-ins. First, the Nigeria striker connected with a header early on, then he scored with one touch following a cross from Giovanni Di Lorenzo midway through the second half.

Davide Faraoni pulled one back for Verona minutes after Osimhen's second with a difficult header.

The victory revived Napoli's title hopes following a demoralizing home loss to Milan last weekend.

'œAfter the defeat to Milan everyone was hot," Osimhen said. 'œTo be able to go into this game with the full determination to get the three points at a difficult ground against a well-organized team, I think we deserve this win.'ť

Napoli is aiming for its first Serie A title since Diego Maradona lifted the southern club to its only two Italian league trophies in 1987 and 1990.

'œFor us to try to win the scudetto we have to try to win the rest of the games of the season,'ť Osimhen said. 'œThis is a step toward achieving our objective and I believe we can do it.'ť

Verona, which ended with nine men after Federico Ceccherini and Faraoni picked up their second yellows in the final 10 minutes, remained ninth.

LATE EQUALIZER

Defending champion Inter was left four points behind city rival Milan after the draw at Torino, although the Nerazzurri have a game in hand.

Three minutes into added time, Sanchez was set up by Edin Dzeko for the equalizer, which deflected in off the foot of Torino goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

Gleison Bremer had given Torino an early advantage by tapping in from close range following a corner.

Inter, which has won only one of its last six matches, is only three points ahead of fourth-place Juventus.

ROMA DRAW

An injury-time penalty from Lorenzo Pellegrini helped Roma secure a 1-1 draw at Udinese, while Atalanta was held 0-0 at home by Genoa, which has drawn seven straight for the first time.

Eighth-place Fiorentina beat 10-man Bologna 1-0 to stay in the hunt for the Europa League places with a late goal from Lucas Torreira.

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

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring a goal, during the Serie A soccer match between Verona and Napoli, in Verona, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, vies for the ball with Verona's Koray Gunter, during the Serie A soccer match between Verona and Napoli, in Verona, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Fiorentina's Lucas Torreira celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Fiorentina and Bologna at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Firenze, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Inter Milan's Edin Dzeko, left, vies for the ball with Torino's Koffi Djidji, during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Inter Milan in Turin, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Torino's Gleison Bremer celebrates with teammates after scoring, during the Serie A soccer match between Torino and Inter Milan in Turin, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Udinese's Pablo MarÃ, right, vies for the ball with Roma's Stephan El Shaarawy, during the Serie A soccer match between Udinese and Roma, in Udine, Italy, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Andrea Bressanutti/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

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