Napoli survive defensive disasters and a red card to steal three points in stoppage time, as Genoa are punished for a fatal late mistake.
Napoli pulled off a dramatic 3–2 victory away to Genoa, snatching all three points in the 95th minute despite playing with ten men and committing a series of costly defensive errors. In one of the most chaotic endings of Matchday 24, Rasmus Højlund’s late penalty decided a game that seemed destined to end in a draw.
Napoli’s win came in extraordinary fashion. Antonio Conte’s side twice handed Genoa goals through individual mistakes, lost Juan Jesus to a second yellow card, and still found a way to prevail at the Ferraris. For Genoa and Daniele De Rossi, the defeat was particularly bitter, as a reckless challenge by substitute Maxwel Cornet in stoppage time erased what looked like a hard-earned point.
The match exploded into life immediately. After just three minutes, Genoa took the lead when Alex Meret fouled Vitinha, who had been sent through by a shocking back-pass from Buongiorno. Ruslan Malinovskyi converted the resulting penalty to make it 1–0.
Napoli responded with character. At the 20th minute, Højlund pounced on a loose ball in the box to level the score, and just one minute later Scott McTominay completed the turnaround with a thunderous strike from distance. The Scottish midfielder was everywhere in the first half, though his night ended early due to a glute injury that forced him off at halftime.
After the break, Napoli’s intensity dropped and Genoa began to take control. Buongiorno committed another disastrous error in the 57th minute, gifting possession to Colombo, who finished clinically to make it 2–2. The situation worsened for Napoli when Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th minute, leaving the visitors down to ten men.
Genoa failed to fully capitalize on their numerical advantage, and paid the ultimate price deep into stoppage time. In the 95th minute, Cornet stepped on Vergara’s foot inside the area, conceding a needless penalty. Højlund stepped up and calmly converted his second goal of the night, completing a stunning late twist and sealing an “impossible” win for Napoli.
The victory keeps Napoli third in the Serie A standings, while Genoa are left to rue a collapse that came from their own mistakes as much as Napoli’s persistence.
Match Report: Genoa 2–3 Napoli
Scorers:
3’ Malinovskyi (pen.) (Genoa), 20’ Højlund (Napoli), 21’ McTominay (Napoli), 57’ Colombo (Genoa), 90+5’ Højlund (pen.) (Napoli)
Genoa (3-5-2):
Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Norton-Cuffy, Malinovskyi (Masini 74’), Frendrup, Ellertsson, Martin (Messias 74’); Vitinha (Cornet 89’), Colombo (Ekuban 64’).
Head coach: Daniele De Rossi.
Napoli (3-4-2-1):
Meret; Rrahmani, Buongiorno (Beukema 60’), Juan Jesus; Gutiérrez, Lobotka, McTominay (Giovane 46’, Olivera 77’), Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Højlund.
Head coach: Antonio Conte.
Referee: Massa
Yellow cards: Meret, Spinazzola (Napoli); Vasquez, Marcandalli (Genoa)
Red card: Juan Jesus (Napoli), 76’ – second yellow
