Europa League: Osimhen’s brace save Napoli from losing to Leicester
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen denied Leicester the perfect start in the Europa League as Napoli hit back from 2-0 down to snatch a point.
The striker struck twice in the second half as the visitors deservedly grabbed a 2-2 draw in Group C at the King Power Stadium.
Ayoze Perez’s first goal since March and Harvey Barnes’ second-half goal gave the Foxes a commanding lead.
But Osimhen grabbed a classy lifeline for the visitors and then headed in a late leveller, with Leicester’s frustrations compounded when Wilfred Ndidi was sent off in injury time.
Police and stewards had to control a disturbance between the home and travelling fans at full time with missiles thrown between supporters.
Napoli controlled much of the game and were almost left to rue several missed chances, with Osimhen, Hirving Lozano, Piotr Zielinski and Kevin Malcuit all wasteful in the first half.
The Foxes – who only introduced Jamie Vardy as a late substitute – go to Legia Warsaw, who won at Spartak Moscow on Wednesday in two weeks.
In another encounter also played on Thursday, Steven Gerrard’s 50th European tie as Rangers boss ended in a 2-0 Europa League defeat by Lyon at Ibrox.
Cameroon international Karl Toko Ekambi fired in a terrific opener for the French side after 22 minutes of the Group A opener in Govan.
The Scottish champions had come close on a few occasions in the first half, but in the 55th minute, Gers skipper James Tavernier put through his own goal, trying to stop a close-range shot from Islam Slimani.
Despite a huge effort from the home side, it was too big a lead to claw back.
(Reuters/NAN)
More from Peoples Gazette
Economy
World Bank axes ‘Doing Business’ ranking after officials falsified data to favour China, Saudi Arabia
The bank accused former staff and board members of unethical practices that led to the artificial doctoring of data to favour countries including China and Saudi Arabia.
World
UNICEF protests govt shutting 77 million children out of school
UNICEF says the world faces an education crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has left nearly 77 million children shut out of the classroom for the past 18 months.
Politics
Buhari has receptive ears, Femi Fani-Kayode sings praise of President
Mr Fani-Kayode, a bitter critic of Mr Buhari in the past six years, has turned around to sing his praise, saying he misjudged the president persona.
Opinion
Wike, FG and authority stealing
Buhari’s government must end the shameful avarice and illegality and do what the law says.
Africa
Coup De’tat: ECOWAS sanctions Guinea, Mali
The Economic Community of West African States on Thursday imposed sanctions against the junta in Guinea and those slowing Mali’s post-coup transition.
