Davide Acampa’s equalizer minutes after the Azzurrini fell behind was enough for Napoli to earn an important point away from home in a 1-1 draw to Torino.
Lineup
Nicolò Frustalupi made no changes to the squad he fielded in Napoli’s 3-0 victory over Bologna in the previous round.
(3-4-2-1) Boffelli; Obaretin, Hysaj, Barba; Acampa, Iaccarino, Gioielli, Lamine; Marranzino, Spavone; Rossi
Match
Though the first half ended in a scoreless draw, both sides created numerous chances. Forwards Oliver Jürgens and Francesco Dell’Aquila were Torino’s most dangerous players throughout the match.
The pair linked up ten minutes into the match, with Dell’Aquila completing a long give-and-go to Jürgens in the area. Obaretin did well to force the diminutive striker wide, while Boffelli made his first of many fine saves of the match, stopping the shot from a tight angle.
Jürgens came close again midway through the half after controlling the long ball from Marcel Ruszer. However, Boffelli made another excellent save on the low shot.
Meanwhile, Napoli had chances at the other end. In the 13th minute, Antonio Spavone dispossessed Alessandro Dellavale in the Torino half before squaring to Pasquale Marranzino at the edge of the Torino area. Marranzino hit the ball first-time, but Torino goalkeeper Pietro Passador did well to keep it out.
Both sides had their best chance late in the half. Boffelli made an impressive diving save on a low shot from Gvidas Gineitis after a lovely team buildup from the Granata.
Moments later, Marranzino flicked Daniel Hysaj’s vertical pass to Gennaro Iaccarino in the area. The midfielder, who was Napoli’s best player on the day, took one touch to set up the shot, but sliced the ball high and wide.
Torino increased the intensity in the second half and created the bulk of the chances, but Boffelli was up to the task. Within ten minutes of the restart, Boffelli made important saves on midfielder Daouda Weidmann and Dell’Aquila – both shots were destined for the bottom corner.
Boffelli’s best save came midway through the half, after Torino were awarded a penalty kick. Dell’Aquila, who earned the penalty with a darting run all the way from midfield, stepped up to the spot. The penalty kick was well-struck, but Boffelli guessed correctly and made the save.
However, there was nothing Boffelli could do on Dell’Aquila’s shot in the 77th minute. Lamine Gningue thought he was fouled attempting to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, but the foul wasn’t given. Jürgens squared to Dell’Aquila in the area and the striker blasted the ball into the top corner to put Torino ahead.
Napoli were quick to respond, scoring the equalizer only a few minutes after the restart. Spavone won a free kick on the right side of the midfield, which Iaccarino swung into the area. The cross was headed clear, but only as far Davide Acampa at the top of the box. The left wingback scored his first of the campaign, volleying the ball through the crowd and past Passador.
The Azzurrini appeared content with a draw, but regained hope for a victory when, in the 88th minute, substitute Andrei Anton was shown his second yellow in 25 minutes of play. That left the Parternopei a few minutes to find the go-ahead goal, but it never came.
With the 1-1 draw, Napoli earned their third consecutive result without a defeat, after a draw to Ajax in the UEFA Youth League and a win over Bologna in the Primavera 1.
The Azzurrini were back in action on Wednesday to take on Salernitana in the Coppa Italia Primavera.
