Osimhen opens UCL account as Napoli defeat Ajax to reach knockout stage
Victor Osimhen returned to action as Napoli thrashed Ajax 4-2 in their Group A fixture to scale through to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Osimhen found the back of the net with just 40 minutes of play as the Italian side walloped Calvin Bassey and his Ajax side on Wednesday night.
Following more than one month on the sideline due to injury, the Super Eagles forward returned to action after coming off the bench in the second half.
Hirving Lozano put Napoli ahead just four minutes into the encounter before Giacomo Raspadori doubled the lead twelve minutes later as the first half ended 2-nil in favour of the hosts.
Davy Klaassen pulled one back for Ajax in the early minutes of the second but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continued with his impressive form this season and restored Napoli’s lead from the spot in the 62nd minute.
Once again Steven Bergwijn reduced the deficit for Ajax for the second time in the encounter from a penalty kick.
However Osimhen, who came on for Raspadori scored just six minutes before the final whistle to seal the victory for Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The goal is Osimhen’s first goal in the competition after he was forced to withdraw in the opening match of the group against Liverpool due to injury last month.
The victory sent Napoli through to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League – they’ve won all of their four matches in this year’s competition.
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