Roma somehow clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit, forcing an epic 3-3 draw against Napoli in a fiery Derby del Sole that saw a Frank Anguissa bicycle kick and braces from both Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi. This wasn’t just a draw, it was an absolute slugfest in Naples that left everyone stunned.
Anguissa’s Bike Kick Highlighted a Frantic First Half
From the jump, this game was wide open and absolutely frantic. Early on, Marten de Roon got a crucial toe to the ball, denying Rasmus Hojlund a clean shot right inside the box. Then, Devyne Rensch made a desperate clearance to keep Noa Lang from tapping in a Giovanni Di Lorenzo cross from just a couple of yards out. Bryan Cristante drilled one just wide from the edge, and Alex Meret stuck out a boot to deny Donyell Malen after a slick low pass from Matias Soulé. Lang even had a cross-shot flash past two Napoli teammates and the far post.
But it was Napoli who broke through with a truly spectacular strike. Matteo Politano’s free kick was cleared by De Roon, but only as far as Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa. From 14 yards out, Anguissa unleashed an acrobatic bicycle-kick that looped perfectly into the far top corner, leaving Pierluigi Gollini absolutely rooted to the spot. Napoli had another huge chance for 2-0 when an inspired Lang pass sent Kevin De Bruyne clear on goal, but Gollini charged out and the ball hit his arm in front of his body, so no advantage gained there. This game was pure chaos, exactly what you want from a derby.
Braces From McTominay and Balerdi Sealed a Jaw-Dropping Finish
While both sides were coming off midweek Champions League victories, their Serie A form was a completely different story heading into this one. Napoli desperately needed to get back on track in Serie A after a rough 3-1 defeat to Venezia. They were missing some key guys too, with Alisson Santos, David Neres, Costantino Favasuli, and Alessandro Buongiorno all out, plus Amir Rrahmani battling flu symptoms. Even Kevin De Bruyne was stuck in a deeper playmaker role he clearly wasn’t happy about.
Roma, on the other hand, had their own injury woes with Lorenzo Pellegrini sustaining a serious injury in their 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, joining Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné, and Mile Svilar on the treatment table. But Donyell Malen was back from suspension, and Bryan Cristante got his first start in well over a month, showing some fire with a glancing header that thumped the base of the far post earlier in the game. To come back from a 2-0 hole in the Derby del Sole, with Scott McTominay and Leonardo Balerdi each bagging a brace, shows incredible heart. This Roma squad absolutely refused to give up, turning what looked like a bad loss into an unforgettable 3-3 draw.
This wild draw means Napoli is still searching to find its footing in Serie A, even after a Champions League win. For Roma, battling through injuries to snatch a point on the road against a rival? That’s the kind of gritty performance that can fuel a season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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