[골닷컴] Reporter Kang Dong-hoon = While Napoli, the Italian professional football team, continued their ferocious momentum, they secured their place in the round of 16 with four wins. On this day, Kim Min-jae started and played a steady role while playing full time, contributing to the win.
Napoli beat Ajax 4-2 at 1:45 am (Korea time) on the 13th at 1:45 am (Korea time) in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League Group A home match against Ajax, played at Diego Vince Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy Goals from Irving Rosano, Giacomo Raspadori, Hvica Kvaratshelia and Victor Osimen resulted in another great victory.
Napoli, winner of that day, maintains first place in the group (4 wins, 12 points) and widens the gap with Ajax’s third place (1 win, 3 defeats, 3 points) by 9 points, leaving 16 in advance regardless of the results of the remaining two games. River advancement confirmed. Napoli will play the 10th round of Serie A calling Bologna home on the 17th.
This season, Napoli boasted an overwhelming performance on the Champions League stage. They have won all three games and boasted stable air balance with 13 points and two runs during this period. The aim was to continue the trend and secure a place in the round of 16 with the win of the day.
Coach Luzano Spalletti anticipated the match by saying: “I’m in a good position, I beat Ajax once, but I will face them with caution. If I change my attitude now, it will be a serious mistake. I will play every game as a final.” He predicted that he would bring victory with all his strength.
Spalletti hasn’t changed much since last weekend’s fight against Cremonese. He would have been physically demanding, but the will to qualify for the round of 16 was clear. Kvaratshelia, Raspadori, Stanislav Robotka, André-Frank Zambo Anguisa and Kim Min-jae were sent as owners.
As expected, Napoli took the lead at the start. At 4 ‘of the first half Rosano exchanges a brace with Piotr Zielinski and a header breaks the net. Then the gap widened further. On 16 minutes of the first half, Laspadori, who received a pass from Kvarazheli, scored. Napoli ends the first half 2-0.
However, Ajax’s counterattack was not easy. At the start of the second half, they started chasing. In the fourth minute of the second half, Davy Klassen headed a Calvin Bash cross. Consequently, Spalletti made a change to change course. In the 5 ‘of the second half Zambo Anguisa and Laspadori were removed, and Tangy Ndombele and Osimen were added.
After the change, Napoli goes on the air, once again widening the gap. In the 14th minute of the second half, handball foul was declared after Ndombele hit a shot during video review (VAR) and a penalty kick was awarded, and Kvaratsheli calmly succeeded as a kicker.
However, Ajax did not collapse easily. In the 37th minute of the second half, Brian Brovi induced a foul from Joao Jesús and received a penalty, and Steven Berwein, the footballer, made it. But Napoli was the key to victory. At 44 ‘of the second half, Osimen cuts the net after intercepting the ball with a push forward from inside the area. In the end, Napoli won 4-2.
