(PRIMASPORT) NAPLES – Six goals, a comeback, two wasted leads, and a thrilling finale. The big match of the eighth round of Serie A between Napoli and Roma ended 3-3, at the end of a spectacular match that left Massimiliano Allegri's team with regrets. The Azzurri took a 2-0 lead, suffered a comeback from the Giallorossi, regained the lead with just minutes to go, and were caught again. A draw that tasted like a defeat for Napoli, while Gian Piero Gasperini's team took a valuable point away from the Maradona.
The stars of the night were Scott McTominay, who scored a brace, and Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi, who scored two crucial goals in the second half. Anguissa's stunning overhead kick opened the scoring, while Soulé launched the Giallorossi's comeback.
For Allegri, sent off late in the match for protesting, another missed opportunity in a season that continues to show evident difficulties in managing matches.
Anguissa creates a spectacular overhead kick, Napoli takes the lead in the 27th minute
Napoli started aggressively, capitalizing on counterattacks and the quality of Kevin De Bruyne, whom Allegri deployed in a unique position: as a defensive midfielder and a key player in the attacking build-up.
The Azzurri tried to strike with Højlund and Lang, while Roma responded with the initiatives of Malen and Cristante, capable of creating some concern for the Neapolitan defense.
The balance was broken in the 27th minute, when Anguissa scored a stunning goal. The Cameroonian midfielder coordinated an overhead kick and sent the ball past Gollini with an unstoppable finish.
The lead gives Napoli confidence, who continues to attack and comes close to doubling their lead on several occasions.
Gollini kept Roma in the game, making at least three key saves towards the end of the first half, including a particularly difficult save from Olivera.
At half-time the score remained 1-0, but Allegri's team gave the impression of being in control of the match.
McTominay doubles the lead, then Badiashile's injury changes the game
The second half starts in the best possible way for Napoli.
In the 48th minute, McTominay made it 2-0, hitting the net from close range after Gollini had parried his first header.
The two-goal lead seemed to definitively direct the match, but the situation changed with the exit due to injury of Badiashile, replaced by Beukema.
Napoli loses defensive compactness and begins to concede more space to their opponents.
Gasperini changed the attacking lineup, bringing on Castro and switching to a three-man attack. Roma gradually increased the pressure, while the Azzurri dropped back and struggled to counterattack with the same effectiveness they had shown in the first half.
Soulé and Balerdi completed Roma's comeback in four minutes.
The Giallorossi's response came in the 70th minute, when Malen found Soulé on the edge of the box. The Argentine found space to finish and beat Meret, reopening the game.
Napoli took the blow and equalized just four minutes later.
In the 74th minute, following a corner kick, Balerdi entered the Azzurri area and found the winning tap-in to make it 2-2.
In just four minutes, Roma erased the two-goal deficit and completely put the result back into question.
Gasperini's team took heart and even came close to overtaking with Castro, while Napoli appeared to be struggling, especially in managing defensive spaces.
McTominay deceives Napoli, Balerdi freezes Maradona in the 88th minute’
When the match seemed headed towards a draw, Napoli found the strength to get back in front.
In the 83rd minute, Olivera fed McTominay, who ran in and made it 3-2, completing his personal brace.
Maradona explodes and the Azzurri once again see a victory within reach that would have had an important impact on a psychological level as well.
But the lead lasts just five minutes.
In the 88th minute, Balerdi struck again, finding his second personal goal and setting the final score at 3-3.
The action provoked protests from Napoli for contact with Beukema, which the referee deemed regular.
Allegri reacted furiously to the decision and was sent off in the 90th minute.
In the six minutes of injury time the result remains unchanged.
Napoli, three goals aren't enough: Allegri pays for defensive errors.
The draw leaves questions especially for the Azzurri.
Napoli showed offensive quality and the ability to create chances, but were unable to defend a two-goal lead that seemed to have put the match on the right track.
Badiashile's injury certainly complicated Allegri's plans, but what really affected him were the difficulties in containing Roma's pressure in the second half of the match.
McTominay's brace and Anguissa's prowess were not enough to secure the three points.
Roma, on the other hand, deserved credit for not giving up, taking advantage of Gasperini's substitutions and their ability to strike at decisive moments.
With this result, the Giallorossi remain in third place with 18 points, while Napoli climb to 11, confirming a start to the championship that has been below expectations.
For Allegri, after recent difficulties, the main disappointment is the two-time loss of victory in front of his home crowd. (PRIMASPORT)
Napoli-Roma 3-3 scoresheet
| Result | Naples 3 – Rome 3 |
| 27′ | Anguissa (Naples) |
| 48′ | McTominay (Naples) |
| 70′ | Soulé (Rome) |
| 74′ | Balerdi (Rome) |
| 83′ | McTominay (Naples) |
| 88′ | Balerdi (Rome) |
| 90′ | Allegri (Napoli coach) sent off |
