Venezia turned a hard-working afternoon at the Pier Luigi Penzo into a defining 1-0 victory over Napoli on Saturday, 17 October, with Akor Adams scoring the only goal of the Serie A Matchday 7 contest. Napoli spent the closing stages pressing for a response, but Filip Stankovic and the Venezia defence protected the advantage after Kevin De Bruyne had seen a penalty saved.
Adams supplies the decisive counterattack
The first half ended goalless, although Napoli had accumulated the greater volume of attempts and corners. Lorenzo Lucca headed wide from Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross early on, while Scott McTominay, Amir Rrahmani, Sam Beukema and Benoît Badiashile all encountered Venezia blocks during a sustained spell around the half-hour mark.
Venezia had their own warning signs. Adams shot narrowly over from a difficult angle in the ninth minute, headed wide later in the half, and came close again with a header that passed near the top corner. John Yeboah also fired wide from distance.
The match changed four minutes after the restart. Venezia broke forward, Simon Sohm providing the pass for Adams, who finished low with his right foot into the left corner to give the home side the lead.
- 49th minute: Akor Adams made it 1-0 after a Venezia counterattack led by Simon Sohm.
- 65th minute: Adams sent another effort over after Albion Rrahmani had released him on the break.
- 70th minute: Rrahmani tested Napoli after Adams played him through.
- 72nd minute: Adams headed an Antoine Hainaut cross on target, but Napoli dealt with the attempt.
Napoli’s penalty and late pressure
Napoli altered their attacking options in the 54th minute, bringing on De Bruyne, Alisson Santos and Rasmus Højlund for Billy Gilmour, Giovane and Lucca. The visitors soon built a series of opportunities: Alisson Santos worked Stankovic, Rrahmani headed wide from a De Bruyne corner, and Højlund had a close-range attempt stopped.
The clearest route back arrived in the 66th minute. Matías Moreno fouled Højlund inside the area, but De Bruyne’s right-footed penalty was saved low to the goalkeeper’s left.
Napoli continued to attack after the missed spot-kick. De Bruyne had a shot blocked, McTominay headed wide from his cross, and Matteo Politano entered in the 63rd minute for Beukema. Venezia also made changes, with Albion Rrahmani replacing Yeboah before Joël Schingtienne, Pasquale Mazzocchi and Thórir Helgason came on for Moreno, Ridgeciano Haps and Toma Basic.
Stankovic and Venezia hold firm
The final quarter became increasingly one-sided, but Venezia remained composed under the pressure. Stankovic was central to that resistance, conceding several corners while making key stops.
- De Bruyne was denied after cutting in from the left, while his later shot from outside the area was blocked.
- McTominay missed a header from close range in the 74th minute and later saw another attempt stopped.
- Alisson Santos had efforts blocked and saved, including a low shot after a pass from Mathías Olivera.
- Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s header, Politano’s effort from inside the box and Badiashile’s late header all failed to find a way through.
- Napoli also had attacking moves halted by offside decisions involving Højlund, Politano, Beukema, Giovane and Di Lorenzo.
Olivera replaced Spinazzola in the 82nd minute as Napoli searched for one last opening. In added time, Badiashile was fouled in his own half before heading De Bruyne’s delivery on target, but Venezia saw out four additional minutes without conceding.
Toma Basic and Kike Pérez were booked for Venezia, who had also lost Moreno to a second-half substitution after he had required treatment during the first period. The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 home win: Adams’ counterattacking finish stood against Napoli’s possession, set-piece pressure and missed penalty.
