Naples staged one of Serie A’s wildest evenings as Napoli and Roma shared six goals at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, finishing 3-3 in the eighth round after the lead changed hands and neither side could find a final answer.
Key takeaways
- Frank Zambo Anguissa opened the scoring in the 28th minute with an overhead kick from a set-piece situation.
- Scott McTominay scored twice for Napoli, first with a header and later with a long-range strike.
- Roma recovered from a two-goal deficit through Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi.
- Balerdi struck in the 74th minute and headed an 89th-minute equaliser to complete his brace.
- The match ended level at 3-3 after a succession of late turns in Naples.
Napoli build a commanding advantage
The home side made the first breakthrough after 28 minutes. Anguissa found the ball in the Roma penalty area following a dead-ball delivery and produced an acrobatic finish, sending his bicycle kick beyond the goalkeeper.
Napoli extended their lead three minutes after the interval. Matteo Politano supplied a cross from the right and McTominay met it with a firm header. Pierluigi Gollini attempted to keep it out, but the ball had crossed the line and Napoli were 2-0 ahead.
For a spell, the hosts appeared to be moving towards a controlled home victory. Roma, however, found a route back through a more forceful final phase.
Roma’s late reply completes a six-goal night
Roma began their recovery in the 69th minute. Donyell Malen combined with Soulé, who created room outside the box before guiding a right-footed effort past Alex Meret.
The visitors were level five minutes later when Balerdi reacted to a loose ball in the Napoli area and put away the opportunity for 2-2.
McTominay seemed to have delivered the decisive moment in the 83rd minute. Collecting possession in the attacking third, the Scotland midfielder drove a powerful shot from distance into the net to restore Napoli’s advantage and register his second goal of the evening.
Roma refused to leave Naples empty-handed. In the 89th minute, Wesley crossed from the right and Balerdi rose above the defence to head home, sealing his own double and the final 3-3 scoreline in a breathless contest at the Maradona.
