Nigerian Victor Osimhen scores first goal as Napoli thump Atalanta 4-1

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen scored his first goal for his new club as Napoli blasted four goals in a devastating 20-minute, first-half spell, thumping Atalanta 4-1 in a Serie A match on Saturday.

The hosts are said to have handed the visitors a taste of their own medicine. Free-scoring Atalanta, last season’s top-scorers with 98 goals, had netted 13 goals in winning their first three games but had no answer to Napoli’s attacks in an extraordinary first half.

Mexican forward Hirving Lozano, out of favour with coach Gennaro Gattuso last season, set Napoli on their way with two goals in four minutes.

The player, known as “Chucky”, tapped in from Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross in the 23rd minute and curled in the second goal after Dries Mertens pounced on a mix-up in the Atalanta midfield.

Matteo Politano fired the third goal on the half hour and Nigeria’s forward Osimhen took advantage of more poor defending to score the fourth before the interval.

Napoli goalkeeper, David Ospina’s kick upfield was misjudged by Cristian Romero, which presented the Super Eagles’ striker with a chance at goal.

Victor Osimhen, who signed from Lille in the summer, chested the ball down and scored with a shot on the turn to net his first goal for his new club.

Romero partially made amends by setting up Atalanta’s consolation for substitute Sam Lammers in the 69th minute.

The Argentine won possession, charged upfield and released Lammers who clipped his shot past Ospina.

Atalanta remained on nine points from four games, one ahead of Napoli.

Napoli have won all three of their games on the pitch, scoring 12 goals and conceding one.

However, Serie A’s disciplinary committee handed them a 3-0 defeat for failing to play a match against Juventus amid confusion over the COVID-19 rules and they also had a point deducted. (Reuters/NAN)

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