Bologna clinch thrilling five-goal victory over Napoli with stoppage-time heroics
The supporters at home started the game in high spirits, yet they were left speechless after only ten minutes had passed.
Juan Miranda delivered the ball into the penalty area, where Federico Bernardeschi unleashed a powerful shot that nestled into the top corner, handing the away team an early advantage and marking his third league goal this campaign.
Antonio Conte’s squad nearly fell further behind moments later, as Miranda’s attempt crashed against the post.
The sky blues eventually started to respond, and Scott McTominay will rue his missed chance around the thirtieth minute, when he directed a header just off target from an ideal spot off a set piece.
Right when Napoli appeared to be regaining control, the red and blues extended their lead from the penalty spot in the thirty-fourth minute.
After a review by the video assistant referee, the official pointed to the spot following a foul on Miranda by Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Riccardo Orsolini slotted it home to claim Bologna’s second strike of the night.
Yet the excitement continued right up to the break, with Di Lorenzo capitalising on sluggish defending to smash the ball in from near range and reduce the gap during added time.
Conte’s words at the interval clearly fired up the team, as Rasmus Hojlund found Alisson Santos, whose clever strike restored parity merely three minutes into the second half, igniting the crowd.
Following that promising opening for Vincenzo Italiano’s outfit, the drive had completely shifted to the previous season’s title holders.
Nevertheless, as the clock ticked towards the end, Bologna secured a stunning winner in the dying moments via an impressive overhead kick from Jonathan Rowe.
With so much riding on the concluding fixtures, Napoli in second place hold a three-point lead over Roma in fifth, with two games left, and the visitors will be keen to bounce back in their upcoming away fixture against doomed Pisa on Sunday. In contrast, Bologna’s success propels them up two spots to eighth in the standings.