ROME (AP) — André-Frank Zambo Anguissa earned notice for his physical presence in midfield during his first season at Napoli with 30 matches played across all competitions while on loan from Fulham — but without a goal scored.
Ten matches into his second season with the southern club — which has since purchased his full rights — Zambo Anguissa is revealing attacking abilities that he can also show off for Cameroon at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Having scored his debut goal for Napoli in the memorable 4-1 Champions League victory over Liverpool last month, Zambo Anguissa produced the opening two scores in a 3-1 win over Torino on Saturday to extend Napoli’s unbeaten start and move the Partenopei three points clear at the top of Serie A.
Atalanta can move back level with Napoli by beating visiting Fiorentina on Sunday.
“It’s always important to score,” Zambo Anguissa said. “But I just want to do my job. If the goals come I’m happy. If we win all the games and I don’t score, I don’t care.”
Napoli is chasing its first Italian league title since the late Maradona led the team to its only two Serie A championships in 1987 and 1990.
“We just want to win all the games. At the end we’ll see,” Zambo Anguissa said.
Zambo Anguissa’s opener six minutes in at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona came with a header in between several defenders following a perfectly floated cross from Mário Rui, who combined well with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left flank.
After another six minutes, Zambo Anguissa was at it again with a solo action after gathering the ball near midfield, rushing forward on the right flank and slotting inside the near post.
Kvaratskhelia, Napoli’s new dribbling wizard from Georgia, added a third in the 37th after he, too, kept the ball at his feet for nearly 50 yards before slotting in off the far post.
Antonio Sanabria pulled one back for Torino before the break during a rare lapse of concentration by Napoli.
Later, Roma coach José Mourinho will watch from the tribune due to a touchline ban as he revisits the club he led to a treble 12 years ago — Inter Milan.
Also, defending champion AC Milan visits Empoli.
In the Champions League, Napoli visits Ajax and Inter hosts Barcelona on Tuesday, while Milan visits Chelsea and struggling Juventus hosts Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday.
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Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf