Four observations from Osimhen's performance in Napoli's 2-1 win over AS Roma

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored his 14th Serie A goal of the season on Sunday as Napoli beat AS Roma 2-1 at the Diego Maradona stadium to go one place further in their title aspirations. 

 

Napoli have not won the Serie A since 1990 but are inching closer to achieving that feat again and Nigeria's Osimhen was at the heart of it, having scored in four successive league games for his club. 

 

Osimhen scored a beautiful goal in the 17th minute after he controlled the ball brilliantly with his chest and let fly a shot that saw the ball nestle in the top right corner. 

 

The cracking goal comes exactly a month after his 24th birthday. 

 

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents observations from his performance against AS Roma

 

1. Versatile Hitman 

 

Osimhen started as the main attacking player for Napoli but was also keen to let his attacking teammates go centrally. 

 

The Nigerian was dangerous in the middle but also created goal-scoring moments for his team-mates when he went wide to whip in crosses. 

 

2. Target For the defenders 

 

The game became very physical especially in the second half with Osimhen suffering harsh treatments from the likes of Chris Smalling and other Roma defenders.

 

He had to come off in the second half as the kicks he got persisted even when the game was at its knife edge - 1-1 against the guests.

 

At a time his left wrist was bandaged after out- of-favour England international, Smalling stepped on his wrist.

 

3. Defensive Nous

 

Like Tammy Abraham for Roma, Osimhen was quite useful keeping Roma at bay especially from corner kicks. 

 

The distance he covered according to statistics on the game stood at 4.3km with two minutes before the end of the game.

 

4. On the road to Serie A History 

 

Osimhen has scored 38 goals in 67 matches for Napoli since he joined the club. He's becoming one of the most deadly strikers in the history of the Serie A.

 

There is more where Sunday's performance came from  and he is now in the same conversations as other such Serie A icons like Andriy Shevchenko, Samuel Eto'o,  Francesco Totti, etc. 

 

 

Izuchukwu Michael
 

 

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