Napoli Qualify for Knock Out Stage, Send Leicester to Conference Playoffs
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Despite the absence of Napoli’s in-form Nigerian International, Victor Osimhen, the Italian Serie A team cashed on Leicester City’s slack defending to snatch all three points and qualify for the knock out stage of the Europa League last night with a 3-2 victory.
Osimhen who medics predicted will need up to 90 days for full recovery after surgery to his injured cheekbone and eye socket, returned to training on Wednesday. It was his first training since that November 21 incidence when he got injured after colliding with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar.
But yesterday in Naples, the Foxes had started the evening in pole position to advance from Group C but will now drop into the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs in February.
Wilfred Ndidi missed the services of both Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman as the Foxes floundered.
Adam Ounas’ early goal set the tone for an error-strewn display from Brendan Rodgers’ side, with Caglar Soyuncu’s ill-advised pass contributing heavily to Algeria winger Ounas scoring his first goal for Napoli since April 2019.
Ryan Bertrand was at fault as Luciano Spalletti’s side extended their lead, playing Andrea Petagna onside, with the forward in turn squaring for Eljif Elmas to tap home.
But the Foxes responded in superb fashion with Jonny Evans driving in an immediate response after a free-kick was only partially cleared and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelling matters with a superb left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area.
However, another defensive lapse, from a Leicester side whose last clean sheet came on the opening day of the Premier League season, proved decisive.
Bertrand, Harvey Barnes and Timothy Castagne were all guilty of not marking tightly enough as Giovanni di Lorenzo picked out Elmas, who allowed the ball to run across his body before driving it into the bottom right corner.
RESULTS
Lyon 1-1 Rangers
Spa’ Prague 2-0 Brondby
Sociedad 3-0 PSV
Storm Graz 1-1 Monaco
Legia 0-1 Spartak Moscow
Napoli 3-2 Leicester
Fenerbahce 1-1 E’Frankfurt
R’ Antwerp 1-0 Olympiacos
Europa Conference
Tottenham v Rennes (PP)
CSKA Sofia 2-3 Roma
