Napoli v Salernitana Result: Heartbreak for Salernitana as champions Napoli win with goal late into 2nd half injury time

Heartbreak for Serie As bottom side meant a great escape for the reigning champions, whose match - and arguably their season - was rescued by injury time goals in each half.

The first was a penalty awarded - upon review - on the stroke of half time, dispatched coolly by Matteo Politano, with the winner a cool finish from centre-back Amir Rrahamani.

Despite the home side dominating first half possession, they failed to advance much towards the opposition’s goal. After the away team endured the opening spell, they began to find their feet, growing in confidence with every minute.

It was Salernitana who fired the first shots, and less of a surprise than it might be that it was they who took the lead in the 29th minute. Antonio Candreva received a neat pass from Bradaric on the edge of the box, set himself up with a simple touch before letting rip with a curler into the top right corner from 25 yards.

Going a goal down may have been what Napoli needed, as only after conceding did they have some productive possession and their first decent efforts from inside the box.

The equaliser came from the spot, as Simeone came off worse from a 50-50 squabble with Fazio. After initially turning down appeals for a penalty, the referee awarded it following VAR review. Under no small amount of pressure, Politano comfortably dispatched it low and left out of reach of Ochoa.

The second half produced much of the same, with Napoli largely in control but unable to make their possession count. Until the dying moments of the match, that is. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close on 94 minutes, failing to make the most of a good chance inside the box.

Two minutes later a free kick which Salernitana failed to address found Rrahamani in the perfect close range position.

The Kosovan shrugged off the pressure, smash the ball home and send home fans into rapture.

The player was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration, but that won’t bother his manager Mazzarri, who may yet see this as a turning point in what has been a season of struggle.

Heartbreak for Salernitana who came within minutes of taking a valuable point back to Salerno. As it is they remain rooted to the Serie A basement.

I celebration, you understand, not as a striptease.

That is surely the winning goal for Napoli. The away side fail to defend a simple free kick into the box and the ball falls at the feet of Rrahmani inside the box. The centre half doesn't wobble under pressure, sending the ball into the roof of the net to raptures from the home spectators.

That could and perhaps should have been the winnner, but his shot is saved.

Dylan Bronn comes on for Junior Sambia, while Ikwuemesi enters in place of Simy.

Salernitana hoping this injury time isn't a repeat of the first half.

Lots of possession, plenty of momentum, but they haven't been able to turn it into a decent chance for a while. Salernitana would be pretty happy to take the point by now.

Norbert Gyomber, who has done a lot of running (mostly back) today gives way.

As Kvaratskhelia is blocked for Napoli, while Tchaouna fires wide from distance.

At this point you'd say it was unjust for Salernitana not to take a point away with them.

He collapses to the ground with what appears to be a hamstring injury. Mazzarri has no hesitation in bringing him off with Diego Demme coming on to replace the midfielder.

As close as Napoli have come in this second half, Ochoa getting down to his right footed shot from outside the box.

Mazzarri replaces goalscorer Politano with Alessio Zerbin.

Filippo Inzaghi brings on Niccolo Pierozzi for Mateusz Legowski.

Napoli have edged the last five to ten minutes, but it's most been with them in the middle of the park and they haven't looked like troubling the Salernitana back line.

It might not have been easier to score, but to be right in front of goal and manage to bonk his shot closer to the corner flag is no mean feat.

Will Salernitana wish they'd made more of a rare, short period of possession?

They've begun to see more of the ball and are doing things with it, as Federico Fazio (yes him of the penalty concession) has a shot of his own blocked from close range.