Napoli move top with battling 2-1 win over Genoa

NAPLES, Italy :Second-half goals from Andre Anguissa and Rasmus Hojlund helped Napoli battle back to earn a 2-1 home win over Genoa on Sunday as the defending champions moved top of the Serie A standings.

Napoli's perfect start to the league campaign was ended by a 2-1 loss at AC Milan last weekend, and Antonio Conte's side risked a second successive defeat before a spirited fightback, which followed AS Roma's earlier 2-1 win at Fiorentina.

Napoli are on 15 points, ahead of Roma on goal difference, with AC Milan, who are away to Juventus later on Sunday, and Inter Milan both three points behind. Genoa, without a league win, are second from the bottom on two points.

Conte opted to rest Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian midfielder had started all seven games this season, bringing in winger David Neres, but it was Anguissa who proved vital to Napoli.

"The three points are the most important thing, I don't need the MVP award," Anguissa told DAZN.

"I give it to my son who always asks me for a new one. For the team it's all about winning, that's what matters most."

For all their possession and attacking play early on, Napoli failed to create any real first-half danger.

The hosts' best chance came from Genoa defender Alessandro Marcandalli's attempted clearance which ricocheted off striker Hojlund and almost found the net.

Genoa, who had registered two goals in their previous five league games, took the lead with an audacious piece of magic from Jeff Ekhator in the 33rd minute.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy rounded Mathias Olivera, took the ball into the area and squared a pass which 18-year-old Ekhator finished off with a deft back-heel strike from just inside the six-yard box.

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