GENOA, Italy (AP) – Rasmus Heylund converted the final penalty as 10-a-side Napoli beat Genoa 3-2 in Serie A on Saturday, keeping the pressure on Milan’s top two clubs.
Fortunately for Hoylund, Genoa goalkeeper Justin Bidgerow was unable to block the low shot despite putting his arm on the ball in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The spot-kick was awarded after substitute Maxwell Cornet was awarded the spot-kick after a VAR check determined that the Napoli midfielder had kicked the leg of Antonio Vergara, who had fallen wide on the floor.
Heilund’s second goal of the match left Napoli one point behind AC Milan and six points behind Inter Milan. They both have the game in hand.
Napoli got off to a bad start just seconds into the game, with Alessandro Bongiorno’s back pass botched and goalkeeper Alex Meret beating Vicinha. A VAR check confirmed a penalty, and Ruslan Malinovsky converted it in the second minute.
Scott McTominay was involved in both goals, and Napoli responded with a fast-break double. Bijlow saved his first shot in the 20th, but Heilund parried the rebound and McTominay hit a fly ball from about 20 meters to make it 2-1 a minute later.
However, McTominay was forced to leave midway through the game with what appeared to be a muscular injury, and a mistake by Bongiorno allowed Genoa’s Lorenzo Colombo to score in the 57th minute.
Napoli centre-back Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th minute after receiving a second yellow card for pulling back Genoa substitute Caleb Ekuban.
Genoa pushed on for victory, but it was the visitors who celebrated after a dramatic finale.
After this, Fiorentina, who are in danger of being relegated, will face Torino.
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