African Giant! Osimhen scores, assists to lead Napoli to important win
Reigning African POTY makes it two goals in two since award
Victor Osimhen contributed a goal and an assist for Napoli to help them return to winning ways in Serie A with a 2-1 triumph over Cagliari at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli claimed a win in midweek to reach the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League this season, and were looking to pick up maximum points as Cagliari came visiting.
The match was a scrappy affair for much of the first half, with neither side managing to manufacture a moment of true quality to open the scoring. The start of the second half was more of the same, with the scoreline remaining goalless.
With 69 minutes on the clock, African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen scored his second goal in as many games for the Partenopei. The 24-year-old rose highest to head home a cross from Mario Rui, giving his side the lead.
Cagliari did not stay behind for long, and former Napoli star Leonardo Pavoletti gave them an equaliser just three minutes later. The striker bundled home from close range to level the scores for Claudio Ranieri’s side.
Osimhen was decisive once more in the 75th minute when he showed great skill to create space for himself in the box before squaring the ball to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to put the side ahead once more.
Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri opted to take Osimhen off in the 82nd minute, with Gianluca Gaetano taking his place. The champions held on for the win, which lifts them to fourth place in Serie A.
