Napoli extends perfect start with Victor Osimhen's header

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates his side's 1-0 win at the end of the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Torino, at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. Napoli won 1-0 (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

ROME — Victor Osimhen soared in for a towering header nine minutes from time and Napoli extended its perfect start to Serie A with a 1-0 win over Torino on Sunday.

After Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne had seen his weak first-half penalty attempt saved and Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a goal wiped off by VAR for offside, Osimhen came to the rescue for Napoli.

The 22-year-old Nigeria striker finished off an assault on Torino's goal following efforts from Dries Mertens and a deflection that set up Osimhen's header.

With its eighth win in eight matches, Napoli again moved two points ahead of unbeaten AC Milan, which defeated Hellas Verona on Saturday.

Defending champion Inter Milan, which lost at Lazio on Saturday, was left seven points behind Napoli.

Juventus hosted Roma later Sunday.

Napoli matched its best start, having also won its opening eight matches in 2017-18.

In a strong performance for Napoli, Hirving Lozano hit the post in the second half.

COLOMBIAN CENTURY

Josip Iličić netted twice and Duvan Zapata became the first Colombian player to score 100 goals in Serie A as Atalanta won 4-1 at Empoli.

Also, Sassuolo center forward Gianluca Scamacca scored twice against his former team in a 2-2 draw at Genoa; 10-man Udinese came back for a 1-1 draw with Bologna; and Cagliari finally earned its first win of the season by beating Sampdoria 3-1.

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