Chelsea 4–1 Napoli (5-4 Agg): Highlights, Match Report from the Blues' Dramatic Extra-Time Victory [VIDEO]
Chelsea progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in dramatic fashion, with a 5-4 aggregate victory over Napoli after extra time at Stamford Bridge.
The Premier League side had gone 2-0 up on the night through Didier Drogba and John Terry before Gokhan Inler had put Napoli back in the driving seat. But Frank Lampard's penalty took the match into another 30 minutes before Branislav Ivanovic made it 4-1 on the night to seal a memorable Chelsea victory under caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo.
Urged on by their home support Chelsea began the game firmly on the front foot and had an early shot from Daniel Sturridge that was well turned around his near post by Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
But then Napoli showed why they have been such a dangerous opponent in the Champions League this season, with a couple of dangerous fast breaks.
The best of them saw wingback Christian Maggio sweep a perfect low ball into the box that Cavani was jut unable to turn into the net at the back post, instead nestling the ball in the side netting.
After a hectic first 15 minutes, the game began to set into a pattern that looked ideal for the visitors. Napoli backed-off into their own half allowing their opponents possession, just waiting for an opportunity to launch one of their famed counters.
But Chelsea threw a spanner in the works with a typical Drogba strike to reduce their deficit to 3-2. Ramires swung the ball in toward goal from the left and the Ivorian was able to get across his marker to meet it with a clinical header past De Sanctis.
While Napoli remained a threat, Chelsea came closest to troubling the scorers again before the break. David Luiz drove a dangerous ball across the Napoli goal that evaded De Sanctis and looked certain to reach Drogba for a simple tap-in before Paolo Cannavaro made a brilliant defensive block to divert the ball away.
Napoli's reprieve did not last long, though. Less than two minutes after the restart, Frank Lampard's corner from the right was met perfectly at the near post by Chelsea skipper Terry, whose header flew past De Sanctis.
The see-saw tie took another twist as Napoli regained the initiative less than 10 minutes later. Terry's headed clearance only reached as far as Gokhan Inler on the edge of the box and the Swiss midfielder chested the ball down right into his path before unleashing the crispest of half-volleys that flew into the corner of the net.
But, in spite of their advantage, Napoli continued to struggle with crosses into the box, and it was no surprise when this frailty indirectly led to Chelsea drawing level with 15 minutes remaining. Branislav Ivanovic was allowed to win a header in the box that was cynically blocked with his hand by substitute Andrea Dossena and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Lampard belied the pressure on his shoulders by slotting the penalty home to send the tie heading toward extra time.
Chelsea thought they should have had another penalty just a couple of minutes before the end of normal time. Drogba tumbling to the ground in the box, claiming that he had been tugged-down by Salvatore Aronica to prevent him getting on the end of a cross.
But the appeal was turned down and few neutrals were complaining when the enthralling tie was given another 30 minutes to decide a winner.
Both sides continued to display attacking intent with no hint of of either sitting-back and waiting for the lottery of penalties.
And it was Chelsea who were rewarded for their endeavors as they went 5-4 up in the tie through a most unlikely source. Drogba's turn and low cross down the right of the box was allowed to travel cleanly through to Ivanovic on the penalty spot and the Serbian made no mistake in driving the ball high into the net.
Although they gave it their all, Napoli it appeared had finally run out of gas as they were unable to test Cech in their efforts to come back once more.
Chelsea provided a performance that that harked back to their glory years to take them through to the last-eight. It must have pained former-boss Andre Villas Boas to watch the old-guard of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba all get on the score-sheet and all be influential on a memorable night at the Bridge.
Chelsea 4-1 Napoli footyroom.com by footyroom
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