Hellas Verona striker Gift Orban continued his impressive form in Italy’s top flight, scoring from the penalty spot as his side fought to a 2-2 draw against reigning Serie A champions Napoli on Wednesday.
Verona stunned the crowd at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona by taking a 2–0 lead in the first half. Nigerian‑born Orban converted a penalty after Alessandro Buongiorno was penalized for handball, giving the visitors a valuable goal and marking another key contribution in his loan spell at the club.
Verona’s opening goal came earlier when Martin Frese cleverly finished with a backheel to put the visitors ahead, but Napoli fought back strongly after the break.
Napoli’s resurgence began shortly after half‑time through Scott McTominay, who headed home to halve the deficit. The hosts continued their push for an equaliser and were rewarded late in the game when Giovanni Di Lorenzo swept a cross into the net in the 82nd minute to level the score at 2–2.
The result denied Napoli the chance to leapfrog rivals at the top of the Serie A standings, but they remain unbeaten at home across the league campaign. Meanwhile, Verona’s spirited performance earned them a valuable point in their bid to climb away from the relegation zone.
Orban’s penalty strike adds to his growing influence at Hellas Verona this season, highlighting his threat in front of goal and underlining his importance to the club’s attacking efforts.
The draw keeps Napoli in the mix for the Serie A title race, while Verona continue to battle in the lower reaches of the table.
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