Napoli’s top-four hopes hit by late Bologna winner

ROME: Napoli let a two-goal deficit slip but were then beaten 3-2 at home by Bologna after Jonathan Rowe struck in added time, a result that left the hosts’ hopes of securing a top-four finish hanging in the balance.

Napoli went into the match knowing victory would have guaranteed a Champions League place. Bologna, by contrast, had only pride to play for, but that proved enough for the visitors to complete a league double over last season’s champions.

Inter Milan, who have already won the title, lead the standings with 85 points. Napoli are second on 70 and are among five teams competing for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition. Juventus are third on 68, one point ahead of AC Milan and AS Roma, while Como are two points further back. Bologna sit eighth with 52 points.

Bologna race into early lead

Bologna moved ahead in the ninth minute through Federico Bernardeschi. He drove into the penalty area, exchanged passes with Juan Miranda and fired an unstoppable effort into the far corner.

The visitors continued to threaten and Miranda then hit the post with a shot on the turn. At the other end, Massimo Pessina denied efforts from Giovane and Alisson Santos as Napoli tried to respond.

Scott McTominay later headed narrowly wide from a corner, with Napoli coach Antonio Conte left visibly frustrated on the touchline. The home side’s problems deepened in the 34th minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo fouled Miranda and Bologna were awarded a penalty.

Riccardo Orsolini stepped up and converted from the spot. Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic got a hand to the ball, but could not keep it out as Bologna doubled their advantage.

Napoli fight back before Rowe’s late blow

Napoli reduced the deficit in added time before the interval when captain Di Lorenzo made amends for conceding the penalty by smashing the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box.

The hosts then drew level three minutes into the second half. Rasmus Hojlund laid the ball into the path of Santos, who swept a first-time finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.

Bologna had gone into the game without a goal in their previous three matches and had taken only one point in that run, a sequence that had ended their hopes of qualifying for European competition next season. But they found their cutting edge again in Naples.

With the match seemingly heading for a draw, substitute Rowe stunned the home crowd at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona by scoring with an acrobatic finish in added time to seal a 3-2 victory for Bologna.

The defeat denied Napoli the chance to confirm their place in next season’s Champions League and kept the battle for the top four unresolved.