Akor Adams scored the only goal as Venezia beat Napoli 1-0 at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on Saturday. It was the bottom side's first Serie A win of the season, and goalkeeper Filip Stankovic protected it by saving a Kevin De Bruyne penalty.
How the goal came
It came four minutes after the break. Sohm sent a long ball forward. Adams held off a Napoli defender, ran on and drove a right-footed shot that took a deflection on its way past Alex Meret, according to Eurosport Italia and Fantacalcio.
Napoli had their chance to level.
Matias Moreno brought down Rasmus Hojlund in the box. De Bruyne, on as a substitute, stepped up in the 68th minute. Stankovic guessed right and blocked it low. Venezia then held on against a Napoli side coached by Massimiliano Allegri, who stayed on 10 points.
It was a perfect debut for Davide Nicola, who had replaced Stroppa on the bench. Venezia now have three points from seven games. They are still last, but the gap has narrowed before next Sunday's trip to Genoa.
Nicola did not want to single anyone out. “I don't like to talk about individuals. Adams puts his heart and soul into it,” he said, as reported by Complete Sports. He added that the Nigerian “helps the team.”
A big summer signing starting to pay
Adams arrived from Sevilla in July for a reported club-record fee of 16 million euros plus bonuses, on a deal that runs to June 2030, and the live commentary on Virgilio Sport recorded Saturday's strike as his second league goal of the campaign, on top of two in the Coppa Italia.
For a promoted club, that matters.
What it means for Nigeria
The timing suits Eric Chelle. Earlier this month Adams rescued the Eagles in Nizhny Novgorod, finishing an injury-time counter-attack started by Emmanuel Fernandez to make it Russia 3-3 Nigeria. That is a goal for club and country in the same fortnight.
November is no friendly window. Nigeria are second in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on three points, three behind Guinea-Bissau after the 3-0 defeat in Bissau, and only one side from the group will join co-hosts Tanzania at the finals, so the double-header against the Taifa Stars could decide a great deal. The first game is pencilled in for 11 November, with the return in Zanzibar four days later. Chelle has not yet named his squad. The NFF is waiting for CAF to confirm the schedule.
Victor Osimhen is expected back, so places up front will be fought for. Still, winners against Napoli make a case of their own. Adams can strengthen it at Genoa before the list comes out.
Read more on his late equaliser in Russia, the venue plans for Tanzania and Alex Iwobi's weekend goal for Fulham.
This article was most recently revised and updated 21 seconds ago
