Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored his 15th goal of the season across all competitions and second in as many games, but it was not enough as Napoli were held 2-2 by Frosinone at the Maradona Stadium.
It has been a season to forget for the Neapolitans who last season beat all comers to the Serie A title, their first in over thirty years.
Just last week, Napoli won 4-2 at Monza with Osimhen on the scoresheet but despite going ahead in Sunday’s game, they were pegged back and could only manage a point at home.
Italy forward Matteo Politano fired Napoli ahead in the 16th minute from a Di Lorenzo assist to get Napoli on their way.
That joy was short-lived as Frosinone got their equaliser from the spot through Argentine winger Mathias Soule 14 minutes later.
Napoli pressed hard to edge but found the Frosinone defence difficult to break down as the first half finished 1-1.
Osimhen scores again but Napoli drop points
The home side upped the tempo in the second half as Georgian playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia set up Victor Osimhen to restore Napoli’s lead in the 63rd minute.
However, the lead only lasted 10 minutes as Frosinone once again found the equaliser.
Moroccan forward Walid Cheddira put paid to Napoli’s hope of a second straight win with another equaliser.
Despite Napoli’s valiant effort at getting another goal to win the game, the Frosinone defence were up against everything thrown at them.
To make matters worse, Napoli defender Mario Rui was sent off in added time for a second bookable offence to end the day on a disappointing note for the reigning champs.
Dull season for Napoli
Napoli have failed to replicate the heights of last season when they ran away with the title.
This season, they’ve had three coaches already.
After winning the Scudetto last season, Luciano Spalleti left the club and Rudi Garcia was appointed but was sacked last November with the club replacing him with Walter Mazzari.
In a twist of events, Mazzari was then sacked two days before Napoli’s UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona and replaced by Slovakian coach Francesco Calzona who was an assistant coach at the club.
Victor Osimhen was the top scorer in Italy’s Serie A last season but has been unable to hit those enviable heights again. A combination of injuries, and international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations has seen him amass 15 goals in 27 matches with three assists – not a bad return per average for the Nigerian striker.
With six games left of the Serie A season, Napoli’s hopes of retaining their title are already up in smoke. Inter currently lead the table with 82 points, 33 more than Napoli who are 8th on the table.
For Osimhen, the season is about getting more goals to help his team get into Europe while getting primed for the World Cup qualifiers in June.
