February 22, (THEWILL) – On Monday night, Napoli concluded a dismal weekend of games for Serie A’s top clubs, and it could have been a lot worse but for Victor Osimhen’s bullet header, which equalised for his side and earned them a share of the spoils.
Despite the fact that Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti did not start his star striker, the Super Eagles forward came off the bench to score the equaliser three minutes from time to earn them a draw against Cagliari.
The I Partenopei travelled to Cagliari, and a win would have propelled them to the top of the Serie A table, since their title rivals failed to win their games over the weekend.
Without Osimhen, Ruiz, and Insigne, Spalletti decided on a weakened starting eleven in a bewildering move. And it showed on the night, as Napoli struggled to perform in a fixture that was in their favour to dominate.
The first half was a bit of a letdown for Napoli, who failed to create many chances. The big highlights were yellow cards for Joao Pedro and Kevin Malcuit.
In the second half, though, Napoli went behind as Ospina’s blunder allowed Cagliari a goal in the 58th minute. He misjudged Gaston Pereiro’s harmless-looking shot, allowing the ball to slip into the net, when it was easier to have saved it.
Trailing the hosts forced Spalletti’s hand and his intervention was to call upon Osimhen, Ruiz, and Ounas, bringing his side’s big guns into the game. His substitutions transformed the tempo of the tie for the visitors, improving their ball-handling and making them more threatening going forward.
Osimhen stepped up in the 87th minute, leaping higher than others to direct the home from a precise cross that teammate Mario Rui lifted into the danger area. It was late but earned for the substitute as he brought the scores level, one goal apiece.
For the rest of the game, Spalletti’s side looked ever more dangerous, but Cagliari resolutely held on for a 1-1 draw. As a result of the outcome, Napoli will remain in third place, two points behind AC Milan at the top of the table while Cagliari is in relegation waters in 18th place.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
