Lukaku’s Debut Saves Napoli from Defeat
Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact on his SSC Napoli debut by scoring the equalizer that led to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Parma. This victory came in dramatic fashion, as Napoli faced a tough challenge against a 10-man Parma team. Lukaku, who recently joined Napoli from Chelsea, showcased his goal-scoring ability right away, saving his team from what could have been an embarrassing defeat.
Napoli’s Struggle and Late Comeback
The match began with SSC Napoli on the back foot, as Parma took an early lead in the 19th minute through a penalty converted by Ange-Yoan Bonny. Despite being reduced to 10 men after Zion Suzuki was sent off in the 76th minute, Parma held on until the final moments of the game. Suzuki’s dismissal left Parma with an outfield player, Enrico Delprato, in goal, making their task even more challenging.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Napoli desperately searched for a way back into the game. In the second minute of a lengthy 15-minute stoppage time, Lukaku found the back of the net, leveling the score and giving Napoli hope. Four minutes later, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa headed home the winning goal, sealing a dramatic comeback victory for SSC Napoli.
Lukaku’s Impact and Future at Napoli
Lukaku’s debut goal was a testament to his knack for scoring in crucial moments, a quality he has displayed throughout his career. After the match, Lukaku expressed his delight at joining SSC Napoli and contributing to their victory. “It’s an honour to play for this team, these fans, and the players who have welcomed me here so well. It’s been a bit of a habit of mine over my career to score on my debut, but at the end of the day, we won, and that’s the most important thing,” Lukaku told DAZN.
Lukaku’s arrival at Napoli comes as the club deals with the absence of Victor Osimhen, who has been excluded from the squad after failing to secure a move away from the club. Osimhen’s future remains uncertain, but Napoli is already looking ahead with Lukaku as their new focal point in attack.
AC Milan Held to a Draw at Lazio
While Napoli celebrated their victory, AC Milan faced frustration as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio. Milan’s coach, Paulo Fonseca, made bold decisions by dropping star players Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez from the starting lineup. Fonseca hoped to spark a change after Milan’s disappointing performances in their first two matches.
Lazio took advantage of Milan’s struggles, with Valentin Castellanos and Boulaye Dia scoring two quick goals to overturn Milan’s early lead, which was provided by Strahinja Pavlovic. In response, Fonseca introduced Leao and Hernandez, along with new signing Tammy Abraham, who made his Milan debut just a day after arriving on loan from Roma.
Leao’s introduction made an immediate impact, as he combined with Hernandez and Abraham to level the score for Milan. However, despite their efforts, Milan could not find a winning goal and had to settle for a draw.
Milan’s Slow Start Raises Concerns
The draw against Lazio leaves AC Milan with just two points from their first three matches, placing them 14th in the Serie A standings. This is far from the start that fans and the club had hoped for, especially after the high expectations following Fonseca’s appointment as head coach. The pressure is now on Milan to turn their season around and climb up the table in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
Romelu Lukaku’s debut for Napoli was nothing short of spectacular, as his late heroics secured a crucial victory for his new team. Meanwhile, AC Milan’s struggles continued with a draw against Lazio, leaving them with much work to do to meet the expectations of their fans. As the Serie A season progresses, both Napoli and Milan will need to find consistency to achieve their goals, with Lukaku and Milan’s star players playing key roles in their respective teams’ fortunes. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
