21st February, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Victor Osimhen rescued Napoli from defeat on Wednesday as he scored the goal that forced FC Barcelona to a draw in their first leg of Champions League round of 16 game.
It was Osimhen’s first match and first goal on returning from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire where he led Nigeria to a silver medal.
Osimhen’s goal was Napoli’s only shot on target throughout the match played at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Italy.
After a goalless first half, Barcelona opened the scoring in the 60th minute of the match. Robert Lewandowski perfectly collected a pass on the edge of the penalty area from Pedri, then produced a nice strike into the bottom left corner.
Six minute later, Pedri was waiting for the ball on the edge of the box and produced a powerful volley goalwards, but the goalkeeper made an amazing save and to deny him.
Napoli equalised in the 75th minute of the match. Frank Anguissa played a simple square pass into the feet of Osimhen in the box, who composed himself and lashed the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.
Five minutes into added time, Ilkay Gundogan tried a curler from the edge of the box, but it slided just wide off the left post.