Soccer Football - Serie A - Udinese v Napoli - Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy - December 14, 2024 Napoli's David Neres in action with Udinese's Jaka Bijol REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
UDINE, Italy (Reuters) -Napoli fought back to claim a 3-1 victory at Udinese on Saturday, with a pair of late goals ensuring they stayed within two points of Serie A leaders Atalanta.
The teams were level at 1-1 until 14 minutes from time when a hurried clearance from Udinese's Lautaro Giannetti found his own net before Napoli's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sealed the win with a low shot five minutes later.
The result means Antonio Conte's second-placed Napoli have kept pace with Atalanta after the Bergamo side won 1-0 at Cagliari earlier on Saturday. Napoli have 35 points, while Udinese are ninth on 20.
"We just need to prove that we're a great side, take it one game at a time and not think about Atalanta or whoever is on top. We are concentrated only on ourselves, that is what really matters," Anguissa told DAZN.
Udinese got a 22nd-minute penalty after Stanislav Lobotka handled and while goalkeeper Alex Meret saved Florian Thauvin's spot-kick, the rebound fell kindly for the captain to score.
While Napoli dominated the first half, they struggled to create clear chances, with Anguissa coming closest with a chance just before the break.
Five minutes after the break, Romelu Lukaku latched onto a through ball from Scott McTominay, held off his marker as he ran into the box and calmly slotted home the equaliser.
The remainder of the second half belonged to Napoli, with the two late goals sealing the points.
Asked what changed during the break that allowed Napoli to turn the match around, Anguissa said: "The coach made us realise we're a great team and we must all do more.
"We gave it our all and we won so this proves that even when we concede a goal we can score several and win the game."
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
