Defending champion Napoli scores in stoppage time for a 2-1 win over Salernitana in regional derby

Sat, Jan 13, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

ROME (AP) - Defending Serie A champion Napoli scored in stoppage time for a 2-1 win over Salernitana in a regional derby on Saturday to end a four-match winless streak.

Defender Amir Rrahmani found the target six minutes into added time after Salernitana goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa collided with a teammate.

Ending a turbulent stretch for Napoli, Rrahmani celebrated by taking his shirt off and running toward Napoli's hard-core "ultra" fans behind the goal bare-chested.

Earlier in the week there was a spat between the agent of Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the club's center forward Victor Osimhen, who is away with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

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Napoli moved up to sixth place, two points below the Champions League spots with all of the teams ahead still to play this weekend.

Later, Serie A leader Inter Milan was visiting neighboring Monza.

Salernitana, which remained in last place, put up a fight at the Stadio Diego Maradona.

Antonio Candreva put Salernitana ahead with a long, curling shot into the top corner near the half-hour mark. It was Candreva's sixth score from outside the box since the start of last year - more than anyone in Europe's five biggest leagues.

Matteo Politano equalized for Napoli with a penalty before the break following a foul on Giovanni Simeone.

Then Ochoa kept the visitors in the game until Rrahmani's strike.

Also, Genoa and Torino drew 0-0.

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