SC Braga 1-2 Napoli - Sikou Niakate own goal gifts Serie A champions late victory in opening game
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Updated 20/09/2023 at 22:17 GMT
There was late heartbreak for SC Braga as Sikou Niakate’s 88th minute own goal consigned them to a 2-1 defeat in their first Champions League game in a decade. Serie A champions Napoli led through Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s strike in first-half stoppage time but Braga looked like they had earned a point when Bruma’s brilliant header drew them level in the 84th minute only to be denied in cruel fashion.
Victor Osimhen of Napoli celebrates the teams second goal with teammates, an own goal scored by Sikou Niakate of SC Braga (not pictured), during the UEFA Champions League match between SC Braga and SSC Napoli.
Image credit: Getty Images
Napoli opened their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Braga, thanks in large part to a captain's goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
The Serie A champions were profligate in an end-to-end first half, but finally broke the deadlock in added time when Di Lorenzo volleyed into the ground and in off the crossbar after Braga only semi-cleared a cross.
Victor Osimhen could have had a hat-trick by that stage, but was denied by Matheus Magalhaes when through one-on-one, had a header tipped onto the post and also struck the bar.
Braga did carry a threat in their first Champions League match in a decade and Napoli's misses looked to come back to haunt them when Bruma equalised with an excellent header in the 84th minute.
Yet there was a sting in the tale for Braga as Sikou Niakate sliced a cross into his own net to put Napoli back in front.
Pizzi struck the post for Braga in the fifth minute of added time, but there was not to be a second equaliser as they succumbed to defeat. For Napoli, the win takes them top of Group C.
Talking point - Napoli get away with it
Despite creating a plethora of chances in the first half, this was not a particularly impressive performance overall from Napoli. Those chances dried up in the second period and were it not for a fortunate own goal, they would have left with just a point.
Defensively they showed fragility too. Braga had multiple good chances even after going 2-1 down and were incredibly close to drawing level, with Pizzi's late shot hitting the post and flying across the face of goal.
This goes down in the record books as an away win, something that's hard to come by in the Champions League and therefore an excellent result for Napoli. But scratch the surface and there are reasons for alarm as the side adjusts to life under new manager Rudi Garcia.
Player of the match - Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Osimhen was a handful for the Braga defence all evening and did everything but score. That included being a key reason for both Napoli goals - the first came after a cross aimed in his direction could only be semi-cleared, the second from a cross again aimed in his vicinity.
It may have been a frustrating night for Osimhen personally, but he ensured the defenders trying to contain him had a worse one.
Player ratings
Braga: Matheus 8, Gomez 7, Fonte 6, Niakate 5, Borja 6, Al Musrati 7, Carvalho 5, Djalo 6, Horta 6, Bruma 7, Ruiz 5. Subs: Zalazar 7, Banza 5 Pizzi 6, Marin 5.
Napoli: Meret 6, Di Lorenzo 8, Rrahmani n/a, Jesus 5, Olivera 6, Anguissa 5, Lobotka 6, Zielinski 7, Politano 5, Osimhen 8, Kvaratskhelia 5. Subs: Ostigard 6, Raspadori 6, Elmas 5, Natan n/a, Simeone n/a.
Match highlights
BIG CHANCE! 5' - Fonte gives the ball away with a careless pass which puts Osimhen through one-on-one, but Matheus makes himself big and denies the Nigerian. A huge let-off for Braga.
OFF THE BAR! 26' - With the ball rolled into his path by Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen turns and shoots from 16 yards, crashing the ball onto the bar.
GOAL! BRAGA 0-1 NAPOLI (DI LORENZO) 45+1' - Napoli recycle the ball well after a corner is cleared and though Fonte heads a cross aimed at Osimhen away from goal, the ball sits up for Di Lorenzo and the captain volleys into the ground then in off the bar.
GOAL! BRAGA 1-1 NAPOLI (BRUMA) 84' - Zalazar crosses from quite a deep position and Bruma adjusts his body brilliantly to flick a header into the top corner, beyond the helpless Meret!
GOAL! BRAGA 1-2 NAPOLI (NIAKATE OWN GOAL) 88' - It's tired defending from Braga as they fail to properly clear, allowing Zielinski to smash a cross into the six-yard box and Niakate slices a clearance into his own goal.
OFF THE POST! 90+5' - Napoli fail to clear, Pizzi makes a good run behind the defence, is found and from a tight angle whacks a shot off the post! So close to a leveller.
Key stats
- Braga have now played 13 matches in the Champions League proper and none have been draws.
- Right-back Di Lorenzo has scored three goals in his last nine Champions League games.
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