Napoli-Roma 2-2, goals from Dybala, Olivera, Osimhen and Abraham

From our correspondent Vincenzo D’Angelo

April 28, 2024 (changed at 9.29pm) – NAPLES

There are years that start badly and end worse. And there’s no way to straighten them. This time Napoli is there, they fight, they commit, they rise again after the deficit but a few meters from the finish line they loosen up and suffer a 2-2 draw from Abraham, after yet another defensive blunder. Alone at the edge of the six-yard box, the Englishman heads in and finds the goal again a year after the last one, confirming that De Rossi’s Roma never ends and is great again. But this time Napoli would have deserved it, still contested and at risk of withdrawing, even if tonight they deserve applause. But to win you have to be perfect, Calzona’s team has never been perfect and continues its ordeal, finishing the 15th consecutive match by conceding at least one goal. Embarrassing for those who have high ranking ambitions.

NAPLES ENTERPRISE

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Napoli tries to charge straight away, but Anguissa doesn’t manage to deflect the header. Roma shows up on a corner, with Mancini passing it to Pellegrini, whose header ends up high. Then it’s the blue monologue: in the 7th minute Ndicka blocks Osimhen well in a slide, then it’s Svilar (19′) who saves with a low exit on Di Lorenzo. The Roma goalkeeper is still the protagonist after half an hour, when he blocks a diagonal shot from Osimhen, who ran away for thirty meters with the ball at his feet and arrived tired at the conclusion. In the 36th minute, a great opportunity for Anguissa: Ndicka misses the save and opens up a highway for the Cameroonian, who, face to face with Silvar, kicks very badly in the corner. Two minutes later, Kvara forced Svilar into a providential volley. In terms of commitment, Napoli are there, but the result is not unblocked and the protest continues from the corners.

OLIVERA ANSWERS TO DYBALA

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Napoli still close to the lead at the start of the second half with Lobotka, but it is still Svilar who saves with a low exit and then Mancini anticipates Kvara with an empty net. Just when you think that Napoli can unlock it, here is the episode that changes the match. And it’s the usual gift from the Italian defense: Juan Jesus puts Azmoun down with his back to the goal. It’s a penalty (14′) that Dybala coolly converts. The tone of the protest increases in decibels, but Napoli immediately finds the equalizer: Olivera (19′) shoots from outside, a friendly deflection from Kristensen who raises the parable and goes over Svilar.

QUICK AND RESPONSE BETWEEN THE 9

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The match gets underway: Politano (20′) hits the ball for Osimhen, header millimeters from the post. Then again Osi takes flight in the open field, but Svilar confirms himself in a state of grace. But Napoli are alive and continue to push, Sanchez (who recently came on for Bove) knocks out Kvara from the ground, Maradona gets fired up, the referee lets go but then called back to the VAR assigns the penalty. Osimhen goes from the penalty spot (39′), already two errors in the championship. But this time he remains cold and surprises Svilar with his celebration and the team embrace. It seems like the end of a nightmare, but Roma have mental strength as well as quality, they throw themselves forward and find the equalizer from a corner: Ndicka extends the corner, Abraham alone at the far post makes it 2-2. The linesman raises his flag, but the VAR changes its decision and confirms the draw. It ends like this: for Roma it’s a golden point in the Champions League, for Napoli it’s just another slowdown. But at least pride and heart, this time, were visible.