Belgian-Congolese Romelu Lukaku delivers late salvation as Napoli snatch crucial win at Verona

Romelu Lukaku emerged as Napoli’s decisive figure with a stoppage-time winner that secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hellas Verona and reignited the club’s push for a top-four finish in Serie A.

At a time when Antonio Conte’s side desperately needed a defining moment following recent setbacks, the Belgian striker provided it in the dying seconds to seal a vital away triumph.

Napoli made an explosive start, taking the lead inside two minutes through Rasmus Hojlund, whose looping header found the far corner after Matteo Politano’s delivery was only partially cleared.

The visitors dominated much of the opening half and threatened to extend their advantage, with Stanislav Lobotka and Eljif Elmas both going close, while Verona defender Victor Nelsson produced a crucial recovery block to deny Hojlund a second goal.

The contest shifted after the interval as Verona raised their intensity and were rewarded with a contentious equaliser. Napoli’s frustrations grew when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro’s strike took a decisive deflection off Hojlund and slipped past his own goalkeeper, restoring parity and unsettling the visitors’ rhythm.

Conte turned to Lukaku in search of renewed attacking authority, but Napoli initially struggled to regain control despite flashes of pressure and another fine save from Lorenzo Montipo to deny Elmas. As the match drifted towards a draw, Napoli’s urgency finally produced reward deep into stoppage time.

Lukaku, combining effectively with substitute Giovane, reacted quickest to a cross and stabbed home in the 96th minute for his first club goal since May.

The late intervention handed Napoli only their third win in eight matches while leaving Verona stranded near the foot of the table and edging closer to relegation.