Lukaku's Last-Gasp Stunner and Tearful Tribute: Napoli Edge Verona in Emotional Thriller

Picture the scene at the Marcantonio Bentegodi: the clock ticking into injury time, Napoli hanging on, and then Romelu Lukaku – the big Belgian who's been through hell – rises like a phoenix to nick a vital winner. As reported by ESPN News Services for ESPN Italy, this wasn't just three points; it was a moment that had the hulking striker fighting back the waterworks. Blimey, footy's got a way of delivering drama when you least expect it.

A Rollercoaster Ride at Verona

Napoli, the defending Serie A champs, kicked off like a house on fire. Rasmus Højlund looped a beauty of a header from 12 yards after barely two minutes, sending the away fans into raptures. It looked like plain sailing, but Hellas Verona, propping up the table, had other ideas.

Come the 65th minute, Højlund's afternoon turned sour. Trying to hoof away a corner, he only succeeded in deflecting Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro's piledriver into the net – an own goal with a twist, credited to the Ivorian. Verona smelled blood, and in stoppage time, Kieron Bowie nearly nicked it, only for Alex Meret to flap like a startled pigeon at a cross. Gutted for the keeper, but fate had other plans.

Enter Lukaku. A short corner, whipped in by sub Giovane, and boom – the Big Rom sweeps it home first time with the literal last kick. 2-1 Napoli. Verona stay nine points from safety, while the Partenopei grab their first win in four across all comps.

Lukaku's Heart-Wrenching Journey Back

This goal was Lukaku's first of the season, after a measly 41 minutes on the pitch thanks to a brutal pre-season thigh tear. His previous strike? Way back on 23 May. Then life piled on: his dad, Roger, passed suddenly in September at 58. The lad paid a touching Instagram tribute back then, vowing to push on despite the pain.

Post-match, eyes glistening on DAZN, Lukaku opened up: footy's been his lifeline, but losing his old man hits daily. He's soldiering on for his girls, his brother, and Napoli – the club that revived him after feeling 'dead' last year. They won the lot then; now it's about scraping high up the table.

Amid the wild celebrations, he pointed skyward. Proper chills, mate. From the depths of despair to stoppage-time hero – that's the Lukaku spirit.

Napoli's Title Defence Gets a Lift

This gritty graft keeps Napoli third, just 11 points shy of leaders Inter Milan, who hosted Genoa later that day. No more slipping; with quality like Højlund and Lukaku firing, they could yet mount a charge.

Verona? Still in the mire, but they gave the champs a scare. Akpa Akpro's leveller showed grit. For Lukaku, though, it's personal redemption. After injury hell and family tragedy, that goal's worth more than gold. Here's to more tears – the joyful kind – as Serie A heats up.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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