Napoli 3-3 Roma: McTominay and Balerdi doubles, Allegri sent off

Roma came from behind twice, including from 2-0 down, to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday. Substitute Leonardo Balerdi scored twice, the second an 89th-minute header, to cancel out a Scott McTominay double, and Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri was sent off for protesting.

Match facts

• Result: Napoli 3-3 Roma (half-time 1-0)
• Competition: Serie A, Matchday 8
• Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples (kick-off 17:00 UK)
• Scorers: Napoli - Anguissa 28', McTominay 48', 83'; Roma - Soulé 69', Balerdi 74', 89'
• Red cards: No players; Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri sent off for protests (90')
• Next: Roma v Cagliari (Serie A), Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 UK; Monza v Napoli (Serie A), Wednesday 28 October, 19:45 UK

How the match unfolded

Napoli had the better of the first half. Rafa Marín was booked in the fourth minute, Pierluigi Gollini saved early from Rasmus Højlund, and Alex Meret blocked a shot from Donyell Malen at the other end. Frank Anguissa opened the scoring in the 28th minute with an overhead kick after a set piece. Gollini then kept out Mathías Olivera on the line, and Bryan Cristante headed against the inside of the post just before the break.

McTominay doubled the lead three minutes after the restart, heading in Matteo Politano's cross at the far post. Benoît Badiashile soon went off with a muscle problem, replaced by Sam Beukema, and Gollini then denied Politano a third.

Gian Piero Gasperini made a triple change just before the hour, bringing on Balerdi, Nahuel Molina and Santiago Castro. Balerdi was booked almost at once for a foul on Højlund. Matías Soulé pulled one back in the 69th minute with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box after a one-two with Malen. Five minutes later Balerdi drove in the equaliser from close range after a corner, when the ball came back off Castro.

Allegri sent on Stanislav Lobotka, Antonio Vergara and Leonardo Spinazzola, and McTominay restored Napoli's lead in the 83rd minute with a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom corner, set up by Olivera.

Roma hit back again in the 89th minute. Beukema went down after contact with Balerdi near the edge of the area, but play went on, Wesley crossed from the right and Balerdi headed in. The goal stood after a VAR check, and Allegri was shown a straight red card for his protests, Gazzetta dello Sport reported. Napoli could not find a winner in five minutes of stoppage time.

Reaction

Allegri told Napoli's official website the game had been "very good and intense", but added: "Since the season started we have let teams come back on us too many times, and these are two more points dropped." On his dismissal, he said: "I didn't say anything in particular. I was sent off at the fourth official's wish."

Anguissa said Napoli should not have let Roma draw level after leading 2-0 and then 3-2, but gave Roma credit for coming back.

What it means

Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A after eight games and have 18 points, according to BBC Sport's table. All three of their goals in Naples came from Argentines, and they have now gone three games without defeat since the 4-3 Champions League loss to Real Madrid.

Napoli have 11 points and are without a league win in two matches after their 1-0 defeat at Venezia. Allegri's side travel on Wednesday to Monza, who lost 3-2 at Torino on Friday.

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