A 96th-minute winner from Romelu Lukaku rescues an underwhelming Napoli performance as Verona fall short despite a spirited display on Matchday 27.
Hellas Verona FC came within seconds of a precious point, but SSC Napoli escaped the Bentegodi with a dramatic 2-1 victory on Matchday 27 of Serie A.
The hero? Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian striker ended a 281-day league scoring drought with a decisive left-footed finish in the 96th minute, delivering a crucial three points in Napoli’s Champions League race and sparing Antonio Conte’s side from what would have been another damaging stumble.
Fast Start, Ugly Middle, Chaotic Finish
Napoli struck almost immediately. Just two minutes in, Rasmus Højlund rose inside the box and powered a header into the corner, beating Lorenzo Montipò and silencing the home crowd.
From there, however, the match turned scrappy. Napoli struggled to impose quality, while Verona — organized and aggressive — kept the game alive through sheer intensity.
Midway through the second half, the hosts found their reward. Akpa Akpro fired from distance, and the ball’s trajectory — helped by a touch off Højlund — wrong-footed Alex Meret to make it 1-1. The Bentegodi erupted, sensing an upset.
Verona nearly completed the turnaround deep into stoppage time when Bowie squandered a golden chance and then lost track of Lukaku moments later. That lapse proved fatal.
In the 96th minute, substitute Giovane delivered a precise cross into the box. Lukaku controlled and spun, unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that buried itself past Montipò. A moment of individual ruthlessness in a match otherwise short on quality.
Lukaku Delivers, Verona Left to Regret
Napoli’s overall display was far from convincing. Midfield control was inconsistent, and defensively they looked vulnerable in transitions. Yet when the decisive moment arrived, Lukaku — introduced in the second half — provided the clinical edge.
For Verona, it was heartbreak. Bottom of the table and fighting for survival, they matched the reigning champions in grit and spirit. Akpa Akpro’s energy and Frese’s second-half impact gave them belief, but defensive concentration failed at the worst possible time.
Napoli remain third. Verona remain last.
But the margin between despair and celebration came down to one final touch from Big Rom.
Match Report
Verona 1-2 Napoli
Scorers:
2’ Højlund (Napoli)
65’ Akpa Akpro (Verona)
96’ Lukaku (Napoli)
Verona (3-5-2): Montipò; Nelsson, Bella-Kotchap (52’ Frese), Edmundsson; Oyegoke (70’ Suslov), Akpa Akpro (82’ Slotsager), Gagliardini, Harroui (81’ Niasse), Bradaric; Bowie, Sarr (55’ Mosquera).
Head Coach: Sammarco
Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Juan Jesus, Buongiorno; Politano (78’ Mazzocchi), Elmas, Lobotka (73’ Gilmour), Spinazzola (52’ Gutierrez); Vergara (78’ Giovane), Alisson Santos (73’ Lukaku); Højlund.
Head Coach: Conte
Referee: Colombo
Bookings: Akpa Akpro (Verona), Vergara (Napoli), Elmas (Napoli), Suslov (Verona), Harroui (Verona), Juan Jesus (Napoli), Lukaku (Napoli); Sammarco and Conte
