Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s incredible strike saw Napoli come from behind to beat Verona 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A.
2023/2024 Serie A
2-1
Match Events
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72' GOAL! Napoli 0-1 Verona (Diego Coppola)
84' Match Event for Napoli vs Verona
88' GOAL! Napoli 2-1 Verona (Khvicha Kvaratskhelia)
Match Report
A dramatic final 20 minutes saw Verona take the lead through Diego Coppola in the 72nd minute, but Napoli shortly equalised seven minutes later through Cyril Ngonge – who joined them from their opponents last month.
Kvaratskhelia then capped a dramatic comeback in the 87th minute with a fantastic goal dispatched into the top corner to win it for the hosts.
Napoli were straight out of the blocks to dominate in the opening stages with Matteo Politano firing in some dangerous crosses and they had a penalty shout waved away in the seventh minute when Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box.
KVARA SCORES. COMEBACK COMPLETE #NapoliVerona pic.twitter.com/EtA9akq1Rs
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 4, 2024
The Georgian forward had a fantastic chance minutes later with a powerful effort across goal that forced Lorenzo Montipo into a save at full stretch to tip the ball away.
Kvaratskhelia tested the goalkeeper again after blasting a first-time volley just outside of the box but Montipo reacted well to stop the ball finding the bottom corner.
Verona did well to defend a dangerous free-kick from Kvaratskhelia before the visitors went on the attack just before the break with Michael Folorunsho flicking the ball past the post before Darko Lazovic’s ambitious effort from distance curled wide.
The visitors had a great chance to take the lead minutes into the second half when Ondrej Duda’s free-kick found Coppola at the back post but the defender fired wide.
Verona threatened again when Lazovic’s curling effort was palmed out for a corner by Pierluigi Gollini.
Montipo was called into action at the other end to punch away Kvaratskhelia’s free-kick before the resulting corner saw the goalkeeper deny Giovanni Simeone from close-range.
Following some great pressure throughout the half, Verona took the lead in the 72nd minute when Tomas Suslov’s free-kick curled to Coppola at the back and the ball bounced off the defender’s shoulder across goal into the bottom corner.
Napoli pressed for the equaliser and came close minutes later when Montipo kept out Pasquale Mazzocchi’s shot before making another brilliant save to tip Jesper Lindstrom’s powerful strike from the rebound over the bar.
𝗙𝗧
Ngonge haunts his former side as @en_sscnapoli come back from 1-0 to take all three points #NapoliVerona pic.twitter.com/VD2irpvZCT
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 4, 2024
The hosts managed to level in the 79th minute when Lindstrom played a low cross into former Verona player Ngonge, who was unmarked in the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Kvaratskhelia completed the turnaround with a stunning strike, turning outside of the box before sweetly curling the ball into the top right corner and despite some late pressure from Verona the hosts were able to see the game out.
Line-ups
Napoli XI: Juan, Mario Rui, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Politano, Rrahmani, Gollini, G.Simeone, Anguissa, Jens Cajuste, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Dendoncker, Nikita Contini, Pasquale Mazzocchi, Giacomo Raspadori, Leo Østigård, Cyril Ngonge, Hamed Junior Traorè, Jesper Lindstrøm, Hubert Idasiak, Natan
Verona XI: Lazovic, Duda, Lorenzo Montipò, Dawidowicz, Serdar, Michael Folorunsho, Tomas Suslov, Juan Cabal, Tijjani Noslin, Jackson Tchatchoua, Diego Coppola
Subs: Simone Perilli, Thomas Henry, Bonazzoli, Giangiacomo Magnani, Karol Świderski, Fabien Centonze, Vinagre, Elayis Tavsan, Mattia Chiesa, Dani Silva, Juan Manuel Cruz, Reda Belahyane, Charlys