Napoli 2-1 Cesena: Late Pandev winner breaks spirit of visitors and clinches spot in quarter-finals

A late goal from Goran Pandev gave Napoli a 2-1 win over Cesena in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia at the San Paolo on Thursday evening.

Earlier, an instinctive Stefan Popescu effort had given Daniele Arrigoni's side the lead. But second-half efforts from Edinson Cavani and latterly from Pandev ensured the Partenopei go through to the quarter-finals.

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With Cesena opting to start the game with a relatively inexperienced starting XI, it was perhaps no surprise that the near full-strength Neapolitans started the better of the two teams. Within the opening five minutes, Blerim Dzemaili fired in a low cross towards Marek Hamsik, only for Nicola Ravaglia to come out and collect bravely from the feet of the Slovakian.

Napoli looked like the only team that could take the lead, but on 20 minutes, Daniele Arrigoni's side silenced the San Paolo. The debutant Eduardo Vargas sloppily lost possession just outside his own area, and Stefan Popescu was there to fire in first time under the body of Antonio Rosati to give the Seahorses at shock 1-0 lead.

Despite that brief lapse in concentration, Walter Mazzarri's side continued to relentlessly attack the Cesena goal. Both Cavani and Vargas had chances to level the score, but the Cavallucci Marini's rearguard was absorbing the pressure expertly, and managed to go into the break a goal up.

The second half began in much the same manner as the first, with the Partenopei having the monopoly of possession and chances. This time Hamsik had the best of the efforts early on; a clever backheel from substitute Pandev found the Slovakian, but his first-time effort smashed against the side netting.

It was becoming all Napoli now, and with 65 minutes gone, normal service was finally resumed for Mazzarri's men. A free kick from Pandev 25 yards from goal was hit low towards the bottom right-hand corner and was saved well by Ravaglia. Unfortunately for the young goalkeeper, the ball was only parried as far as Cavani, and he blasted it into the back of the net to equalise.

The game now was becoming rather open with both sides looking for a winner, and that's exactly what came with five minutes remaining. Another free kick from Pandev, this time swung in from the right-hand side, caught Ravaglia napping at his near post, and just crept past the line.

Some late pressure from Cesena wasn't enough, and Napoli, although hard-fought, won the day and progressed to a quarter-final tie with either Inter or Genoa.