FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Napoli v Hellas Verona - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - February 4, 2024 Napoli's Cyril Ngonge scores their first goal REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/File photo
(Reuters) -Champions Napoli rescued a point on Saturday with a 90th-minute goal by substitute Cyril Ngonge as they struggled to a 1-1 Serie A home draw with mid-table Genoa.
Napoli, who were beaten 1-0 at AC Milan last weekend and have shown little of last season's title-winning form recently, are now winless in four of their six league games this year.
Walter Mazzarri's side provisionally moved up to ninth in the standings on 36 points with a game in hand, six behind fourth-placed Atalanta, who host Sassuolo later on Saturday.
"I can't be happy with the goal because the result wasn't positive. In front of our fans we have an obligation to win," Ngonge told DAZN.
"This draw doesn't change our ambitions, fourth place remains an objective. We are 100% convinced we can do it.
"We work hard during the week, after a Scudetto it's not easy to repeat. I'm sure the points will arrive. In the Champions League we'll have the opportunity to redeem ourselves, the focus is already on Wednesday."
Napoli host Barcelona next week in the last 16 of Europe's top-tier competition.
While Napoli dominated possession, Genoa looked more determined throughout the game and their forward Mateo Retegui could have given his side the lead twice in the first half, forcing Napoli keeper Alex Meret into saves.
Midfielder Morten Frendrup eventually put the visitors in front in the 47th minute, leaving Meret with no chance when he struck from the edge of the box into the top right corner.
The toothless hosts continued to lack precision, with only seven of their 25 attempts on target and Genoa were closing on their first win at Napoli in 15 years.
But Ngonge collected the ball near the penalty spot from a Giovanni Di Lorenzo header and grabbed a point for his side with a low strike inside the post in the final minute of regulation time.
Napoli travel to second-bottom Cagliari on Feb. 25. Genoa, who 12th on 30 points from 25 games, host Udinese on Feb. 24.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Ed Osmond)
