Victor Osimhen opened his Serie A campaign for this season by scoring and mocking racist fans as Napoli defeated Verona 5-2 tonight.
The Super Eagles striker netted Napoli’s second goal in the come-from-behind victory and celebrated by taking off his protective mask and sticking his tongue out in response to some of the Verona fans who had been racially abusing him.
Napoli, who finished third in the Italian top flight last season, put up a dominant display against their hosts and will end the opening matchday on top of the table.
They however fell from behind in the first half, Kevin Lasagna volleying home at the back post after a corner kick in the 29th minute.
Napoli equalised eight minutes later when Hirving Lozano’s cross from the right evaded Osimhen, but fell to Kvicha Kvaratskhelia to score on his Serie A debut.
Napoli turned it completely around in first-half added time as a corner was flicked on by Giovanni Di Lorenzo for Osimhen to stick out a leg and direct the ball into the net.
He then did his celebration that mocked some in the crowd who had been hurling racist abuse.
Verona drew level just three minutes into the second half, with Thomas Henry scoring with a free header Marco Davide Faraoni’s cross.
Napoli restored their lead in the 55th minute of the thrilling encounter as Kvaratskhelia sent Zielinski clean through for a neat finish.
Stanislav Lobotka made it 4-2 ten minutes later and Osimhen was involved in Napoli’s fifth goal, setting up substitute Matteo Politano with a flick to finish off a brilliant team move in the 79th minute.
