By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s Super Eagles hitman Victor Osimhen Friday night grabbed a brace and an assist as Napoli smashed Juventus 5-1 in an Italian Serie A clash inside Diego Armando Maradona Stadium
The gushing victory extended Napoli’s lead on the table to 10 points.
Before the game, the Nigerian international had been in action against the Old Lady thrice without finding the back of the net.
However, all of that changed in the 14th minute after he headed home from close range for the opening goal after Wojciech Szczęsny spilled a shot from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The goal also ended Juve’s eight game streak without conceding a goal.
Osimhen turned provider in the 39th minute as he gave the assist for Kvaratskhelia to make it 2-0 in favour of Napoli.
Angel Di Maria’s clever goal in the 42nd minute cut down the deficit to 2-1 as both teams headed into the half time break.
Napoli came out of the tunnel steaming in the second half.
Osimhen should have made it 3-1 in the 44th minute but his effort was parried away by Szczesny, but the ensuing corner kick resulted in a goal as Amir Rrahmanilow shot found the right bottom corner of Szczęsny’s goal.
The Nigerian grabbed his brace in the 65th minute connecting to a well played cross from Kvaratskhelia to make it 4-1, while substitute Elif Elmas made it 5-1 in the 72nd minute to complete the rout.
Osimhen’s double took his goals’ tally to 12 in 14 league games, four more than Inter’s Lautaro Martínez, Spezia’s MBala Nzola and Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic all on eight goals this season.
Osimhen was denied the opportunity to grab his second career hat-trick when he made way for Giacomo Raspadori in the 78th minute.
Juventus had not conceded five goals in any tournament since a 5-1 defeat to Pescara in Serie A on May 30, 1993.
The hosts had Massimiliano Allegri’s side on the ropes throughout, and would have won by an even greater margin, were it not for some good goalkeeping and, at times, poor finishing.
