Milan, 12 January (H.S.): Defending champions Napoli displayed remarkable resilience on Monday, holding Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the San Siro stadium. Scott McTominay scored both goals for Napoli, while head coach Antonio Conte received a red card for protesting a referee decision.
Inter Milan remain atop the standings with 43 points following the draw, ahead of AC Milan on 40 points after their earlier 1-1 stalemate against Fiorentina. Napoli hold third place with 39 points, staying firmly in the title race.
Napoli dominated early possession, but Inter struck first in the ninth minute. After losing the ball in midfield, Marcus Thuram advanced and fed Federico Dimarco inside the box, who fired a low shot from an acute angle into the far corner.Inter then applied intense high pressing, pinning Napoli in their own half for extended periods.
Napoli equalized unexpectedly in the 26th minute when Leonardo Spinazzola's pass found Eljif Elmas in the box; his low cross was tapped in by McTominay, who outmaneuvered Manuel Akanji at the near post to beat Yann Sommer.
Just before halftime, Thuram's header was tipped over by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, sending both teams into the break level at 1-1.In the second half, Napoli created chances to take the lead. Milinkovic-Savic's long clearance set Rasmus Hojlund racing toward goal, but his shot sailed just wide.
Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo headed Spinazzola's cross narrowly off target.Napoli paid for these misses when Inter earned a penalty after Amir Rahmani fouled Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Conte's furious protests earned him a red card, and Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot in the 73rd minute, striking the post en route to goal and restoring Inter's 2-1 lead.
Undeterred, Napoli leveled in the 81st minute. Matteo Politano's floated cross was nodded back across goal by Noah Lang from the byline, allowing McTominay to unleash a superb volley from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 2-2.
In added time, Mkhitaryan's deflected shot struck the post and rebounded to safety, denying Inter a seventh consecutive league victory. McTominay's commanding performance earned Napoli a vital point at San Siro, intensifying the Serie A title chase.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
