VICTOR Osimhen scored a spectacular goal of brilliant skill and audacity today as Napoli defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 in a mid-season friendly match in Turkey.
Napoli had gone behind to a Wilfried Zaha strike before Osimhen pounced and pulled the Serie A leaders level.
The Super Eagles striker flicked the ball over the head of Will Hughes, then used a lucky ricochet off another defender to turn and volley home from a tight angle in a crowded box.
Giacomo Raspadori completed the turnaround for Napoli with a brace, including a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
Osimhen led the Serie A scoring charts before the Qatar 2022 World Cup break, the Nigeria international netting nine goals in 11 appearances, one more goal than Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic, who has played 13 games.
In other friendly matches today, Chelsea and Liverpool were beaten by Aston Villa and Lyon respectively.
John McGinn scored the only goal as a near full-strength Villa side beat a second string Chelsea team 1-0, while Lyon came from behind to beat Liverpool.
Fabio Carvalho opened the scoring for the English side inside the first minute but the French club responded with a brace from former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and another goal from Bradley Barcola.
Also during this mid-season break, Manchester United lost two friendlies in Spain, 3-2 to Cadiz last Wednesday and 1-0 to Real Betis on Friday.
The European leagues will resume shortly after next Sunday’s Qatar 2022 World Cup final.
