TNT Sports
Napoli 1-1 Genoa - Cyril Ngonge snatches 90th minute equaliser to spare Serie A champions' blushes at home
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Published 17/02/2024 at 14:18 GMT
Napoli looked to be facing a ninth Serie A defeat of the season after Morten Frendrup gave visitors Genoa a shock second half lead at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium but salvaged a point late on when Cyril Ngonge's smart 90th minute finish levelled the scores. The result sees the struggling defending Serie A champions in ninth place as they face a battle to qualify for Europe.
Watch: 'Another milestone' - Martinez grabs 20th league goal of the season
Video credit: TNT Sports
Substitute Cyril Ngonge's 90th minute equaliser saved a point for Napoli at home to Genoa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Although enjoying far more possession, Genoa looked more potent in front of goal and took the lead shortly after half time when Morten Frendrup scored his first goal for the Rossoblu.
Despite the efforts of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, in the absence of Victor Osimhen, whose late return from the African Cup of Nations meant he was not a part of the squad, Napoli did not look like scoring until Ngonge also opened his account for his team.
Mathias Olivera's cross found skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo at the back post who nodded back for the Belgian who spun and directed his effort wide of Josep Martinez.
The result sees Napoli lift a place to ninth, while Genoa remain in 12th position.
Talking Point - Can Napoli and Osimhen coexist happily for a couple of months?
Once more there are whisperings of discontent between player and club after last year's Capocannoniere arrived back in Naples on Friday, 24 hours later than expected, from the African Cup of Nations and did not take his place in this match.
The contrast with Mohamed Salah at Liverpool could not be more stark after the Egyptian star starred on his return earlier this afternoon setting up and scoring a goal. Granted, his side were out earlier in the tournament, but he did return with an injury.
It seems very unlikely Osimhen remains at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona next season with him being heavily linked to Premier League clubs, especially Chelsea.
However, the fate of coach Walter Mazzarri and Napoli's status as even a top half Serie A club could lie on whether the Nigerian marksman can return and bring his best form.
Napoli have failed to score in their last five away league games and only managed three of their last six home matches in all competitions leading into this match, plus close to 90 minutes today. No side in Serie A can less afford their star striker to be absent.
Player of the Match - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
He really can't do a great deal more, other than maybe finish his own work. As was almost always the case in their title-winning year, he was the best player in the final third on the pitch only now he did not have the team-mates to take advantage of this.
His frustrations were shown a minute before the goal when he was free on the far side of the penalty area but substitute Jesper Lindstrom did not play the type of ball he had managed for his team-mates many times in the match, only to see them spurn opportunities. A potential explosion was quelled when Ngonge struck under a minute later.
Player Ratings
Napoli: Meret 7; Di Lorenzo 7, Rrahmani 7, Ostigard 6, Mazzocchi 6; Anguissa 6, Lobotka 6, Traore 6; Politano 6, Simeone 6, Kvaratskhelia 8*.
Subs: Natan 6, Lindstrom 6, Ngonge 7, Olivera 7, Raspadori 6.
Genoa: Martinez 6; De Winter 6, Bani 6, Vasquez 7; Sabelli 6, Messias 7, Badelj 6, Frendrup 7, Martin 7; Retegui 6, Gudmundsson 5.
Subs: Malinovsky 6, Ekuban 6, Carvalho 6, Cittadini 6, Strootman 6.
Match Highlights
8' RETEGUI FORCES SAVE FROM MERET! Martin put in a cross from the left flank which the Genoa striker met and directed towards the bottom left hand corner but the Napoli keeper got down smartly to save.
28' A FINE STOP FROM MERET! Martin turned inside on the left flank and clipped a ball into the box which Retegui meets at the front post forcing a good stop from the Napoli stopper diving to his right. Both Retegui and Ostigard get some treatment after they clashed heads during the aerial challenge.
47' GOAL!!! NAPOLI 0-1 GENOA (FRENDRUP) The Dane scores his first for the Rossoblu. Messias plays the ball into the feet of Retegui who is dispossessed by the ball falls to Frendrup on the edge of the area and he makes no mistake.
74' ANGUISSA HEADS OVER THE BAR! What a chance that was. He met Kvaratskhelia's corner unmarked six yards out but failed to hit the target.
90' GOAL!!! NAPOLI 1 (NGONGE) GENOA 1 Di Lorenzo headed back Olivera's cross and Ngonge spun 270 degrees before sliding a shot home inside the post.
Key Stat
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