Rome, April 10 (BNA): Napoli’s title hopes dealt a heavy blow on Sunday, as they lost 3-2 at home to Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A.
Dries Mertens canceled Nicholas Gonzalez’s opener shortly after he was taken off the bench. But fellow substitute Jonathan Iconi also had an immediate impact as he restored Fiorentina’s advantage and Arthur Cabral closed the match.
Victor Osimhen gave hope to Napoli, but in the end he stayed one point behind Serie A leaders AC Milan, who later visit Turin. Inter Milan, the defending champion, is level with Napoli but has a game in hand.
Napoli were looking to climb to the top of the league, at least temporarily, but Fiorentina took a surprising lead in the 29th minute. Alfred Duncan’s cross was not cleared and Gonzalez controlled the ball to his chest before firing into the top corner.
Mertens was brought in in the 56th minute and scored a practically first touch goal two minutes later, passing the ball into the lower left corner after Usimin raced down the left and slipped from the sideline.
Napoli thought they equalized again, but Hirving Lozano called offside and instead it was Fiorentina who expanded their advantage in the 72nd minute as Cabral ran to the left and cut inside the goal by Stanislav Lobotka before blasting into the far corner.
Osimhen put on a frantic conclusion when he pulled the ball back six minutes from the end of the match, slotted the ball between two defenders and then shot hard into the top corner.
insult