Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact at Napoli, scoring a crucial debut goal that helped his team secure a 2-1 victory over 10-man Parma. The Belgian striker, who joined Napoli in the days leading up to the match, came off the bench in the second half and played a pivotal role in turning the game around.
Napoli seemed to be heading for their second defeat of the season after Parma took a surprising 19th-minute lead with a penalty from Ange-Yoan Bonny. However, Lukaku equalized in the second of 15 minutes of stoppage time, lashing the ball past Enrico Delprato, who was forced to play in goal after Zion Suzuki was sent off in the 76th minute.
Suzuki’s dismissal for a second yellow card came at a critical moment, leaving Parma without their first-choice goalkeeper after coach Fabio Pecchia had exhausted his substitutions. Four minutes after Lukaku’s equalizer, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa secured the win for Napoli with a powerful header, sealing a dramatic comeback and giving the team their second win in three matches.
Lukaku’s debut goal was especially notable as he was introduced to the Napoli fans alongside fellow new signings Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour before the match. Reflecting on his performance, Lukaku told DAZN, “It’s an honor to play for this team, these fans, and the players who have welcomed me here so well. It’s been a bit of a habit of mine over my career to score on my debut, but at the end of the day, we won, and that’s the most important thing.”
Lukaku was brought in to replace Victor Osimhen, who has been excluded from the Napoli squad after unsuccessfully seeking a move away from the club. Despite his desire to leave, no club met Napoli’s valuation or Osimhen’s wage demands, leaving him sidelined as Napoli rebuilds under new coach Antonio Conte.
