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Napoli logo
Serie A | Gameweek 10
Oct 28, 2018 at 7.30pm UK
 
Roma logo

1-1

Mertens (90')
FT(HT: 0-1)

Dries Mertens leaves it late as Napoli earn point against Roma

Dries Mertens leaves it late as Napoli earn point against Roma
© Reuters
Mertens struck in the last minute of normal time to earn a 1-1 draw.

Dries Mertens scored a last-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw for Napoli and deny Roma victory in the Derby del Sole at Stadio San Paolo.

Stephan El Shaarawy’s 14th-minute goal looked set to give Eusebio Di Francesco’s side all three points as Napoli failed to convert their numerous chances and found Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen in superb form.

But with time running out substitute Mertens, who had two earlier efforts ruled out for offside, reacted quickest to Jose Callejon’s mishit shot to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

After kick-off was delayed by several minutes due to a problem with the VAR system, Napoli were the first to threaten as Fabian Ruiz embarked on a mazy run through the Roma defence.

However, just as he manoeuvred himself into a shooting position, Ruiz opted to set up team-mate Lorenzo Insigne, who saw his shot deflected over the bar.

At the other end Edin Dzeko flashed a right-foot shot just wide and seconds later Roma took the lead as Cengiz Under’s cross found El Shaarawy completely unmarked and he fired the visitors ahead off the inside of the post.

Napoli responded well to going behind and Arkadiusz Milik saw his shot well saved by Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen, with Insigne then flagged offside as he tried to put away the rebound.

Marek Hamsik then drew two more good saves out of the impressive Olsen before Dzeko almost doubled Roma’s lead after running on to Under’s through ball and rounding David Ospina, although the goalkeeper forced Dzeko wide and his left-foot shot was headed off the line by Raul Albiol.

Roma’s hopes of victory suffered a major blow shortly before half-time when captain Daniele De Rossi was forced off through injury to be replaced by Bryan Cristante, with Dzeko taking the captain’s armband.

Dzeko did not exactly cover himself in glory in the role and was booked for a dive 10 minutes into the second half, which Roma would spend the majority of which defending stoically.

Mertens twice had the ball in the net only to be correctly flagged for offside on each occasion, but it was third time lucky in the last minute when Callejon failed to connect properly with Insigne’s cross and Mertens was alert enough to fire home from close range.

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2AC Milan29195555332262
3Juventus29178444232159
4Bologna29159542251754
5Roma29156855352051
6Atalanta BCAtalanta28145951321947
7Napoli29129844331145
8Fiorentina2812794132943
9Lazio29134123633343
10Monza2911993236-442
11Torino29101182826241
12Genoa29810113136-534
13Lecce29610132645-1928
14Udinese29415102844-1627
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2968152639-1326
16CagliariCagliari2968152950-2126
17Empoli2967162243-2125
18FrosinoneFrosinone2966173760-2324
19SassuoloSassuolo2965183356-2323
20Salernitana2928192359-3614


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