Even after taking a lead after just 11 seconds, Napoli failed to avoid a loss in the second round of Europa League group-stage matches on Thursday.
Eljif Elmas netted the early goal for Napoli — the second-quickest ever in UEFA’s second-tier competition — but thanks to a brace from Quincy Promes, Spartak Moscow rallied to a 3-2 victory after both teams were reduced to 10 men.
Elmas’ goal was the fastest in the Europa League since Jan Sýkora of Czech side Liberec scored 10.69 seconds into a game at Qarabağ in 2016.
Also Read: UCL: Cristiano Ronaldo comes to Man Utd’s rescue, scores winner against Villarreal
But Mário Rui was shown a red card after a video review following a rough foul on Victor Moses in the first half and the visitors turned the game around after the break with two goals from Quincy Promes and substitute Mikhail Ignatov.
Spartak also finished the game with 10 men after Maximiliano Caufriez was sent off after receiving his second yellow card 10 minutes from time, but Promes added a second goal to extend the lead before Victor Osimhen pulled one back for Napoli in stoppage time.
Also Read: Watch: Lionel Messi’s first goal for PSG
In the new third-tier Europa Conference League, Stephan El Shaarawy scored seven minutes into the game to put Roma on course to a 3-0 away win at Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk.
Meanwhile, in the other game of the group, thanks to a goal from striker Mahir Emreli, Legia Warsaw stunned Leicester City in a 1-0 victory, picking up three massive points and catapulting their way to the top of the Group C table.
Manager Brendan Rodgers and his men have suffered an extended slump and are yet to register their first victory in the second-tier European tournament. The 2015 Premier League winners are going through a recent slump of form as they have only won one of their last six fixtures.
With inputs from the Associated Press