The Canadian Press – Aug 15, 2022 / 11:57 am | Story: 380293
Photo: The Canadian Press
MILAN (AP) — New signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could help Napoli forget about all the players that left in the offseason.
The 21-year-old Kvaratskhelia, who was signed from Georgian club Dinamo Batumi last month, provided a goal and an assist to help Napoli win 5-2 at Hellas Verona in its opening match of the new Serie A season.
That means all the likely title contenders have won their opening matches, with just Juventus to play later, at home against Sassuolo.
Napoli finished third last season but there were question marks over how it would perform following the departure of several key players such as captain Lorenzo Insigne, all-time leading scorer Dries Mertens and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
It dominated from the start in Verona, but it was the home team that took the lead in the 29th minute. Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret managed to fingertip Martin Hongla’s effort over the bar but the resulting corner was nodded on to the far post for Kevin Lasagna to volley in.
André Anguissa almost leveled in the 34th but his header came off the left post. But Napoli did equalize three minutes later when Kvaratskhelia headed in Hirving Lozano’s cross.
And the turnaround was complete on the stroke of halftime with a goal similar to Verona’s opener as a Napoli corner was headed on for Victor Osimhen to volley in at the far post.
There were reports of racist chanting coming from Hellas Verona fans and Osimhen, who is Black, responded by pretending to cry.
Thomas Henry headed in the equalizer for Verona almost immediately after the break but it was all Napoli from then on.
The visitors restored their lead in the 55th when Kvaratskhelia touched on a through ball with a fantastic pass for Piotr Zieli?ski, who slotted into the bottom right corner.
Stanislav Lobotka and substitute Matteo Politano sealed the result, while Adam Ounas also had a goal ruled out for Napoli seconds after coming off the bench.
___