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Played
February 21, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Stadio San Paolo — Napoli
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 52495
February 21, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Stadio San Paolo — Napoli
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Attendance: 52495
Top of the Match
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Napoli
Napoli
Edinson Cavani
Napoli
Napoli
Flop of the Match
Branislav Ivanovic
Chelsea
Chelsea
André Villas-Boas
Chelsea
Chelsea
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Napoli 3-1 Chelsea: Lavezzi and Cavani pile pressure on Villas-Boas as visitors forfeit goal lead to teeter on Champions League brink
The South American strike partnership combined to great effect as the Italians seized the initiative in the first knockout round, both teams exploiting defensive errors.
By George Ankers
An Ezequiel Lavezzi double on both sides of Edinson Cavani's goal made the difference as Napoli came back from a goal down to put itself in the driving seat of the Champions League first knockout round tie with a 3-1 win over Chelsea.
Juan Mata opened the scoring after 27 minutes when an error from Paolo Cannavaro let him in for an easy finish, but Lavezzi hit a classy equalizer on the edge of the area shortly afterwards.
Cavani raced past a ball-watching Branislav Ivanovic to bundle home with his shoulder just before halftime, with Lavezzi deepening the visitors' woes midway through the second period as a result of a calamitous David Luiz mistake.
The hosts boasted a full-strength frontline with Blues target Cavani leading the attack alongside Marek Hamsik and Lavezzi.
Andre Villas-Boas, meanwhile, boldly dropped Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard to the bench, while Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes in favor of Jose Bosingwa. Didier Drogba returned to the starting lineup after the Africa Cup of Nations but captain John Terry missed out ahead of having surgery on Wednesday for a knee problem.
Napoli started well, with Petr Cech called into action early when Cavani evaded Gary Cahill in the box to shoot with venom before the Blues goalkeeper saved well with his foot.
Having started the game ahead of Cole due to the England man’s fitness concerns, Bosingwa was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury just over 10 minutes into proceedings, prompting the first-choice left back’s introduction.
There was a worrying moment for the visitors when Lavezzi attempted a pinpoint pass through the defense, but Cavani strayed offside and the danger passed.
It was then Napoli’s turn to be in trouble, though, with keeper Morgan De Sanctis missing his attempted claiming of Cech’s long kick and nearly letting Florent Malouda in for an open goal before Campagnaro arrived to intervene.
The hosts recovered and just moments later Hamsik fed Christian Maggio on the right flank. The wing back bursted into the area and drew a fine fingertip save from Cech.
Chelsea found a breakthrough in the 27th minute. Throwing large numbers forward, the club put home skipper Cannavaro under pressure and the defender miskicked as he tried to clear Daniel Sturridge’s pass. He succeeded only in playing in Mata, who exuded coolness with a simple sidefooted finish.
As Napoli looked to build a response, the away side countered. Sturridge embarked on a long, quick run down the right. Mata was waiting in the penalty area but the young forward looked to do it all himself and got close, only for his eventual shot to be blocked.
Napoli then got back on level terms just over five minutes before the break. Cavani, on the turn, played it square for Lavezzi on the edge of the area. The Argentine had no trouble moving past Meireles before curling the ball into the bottom corner with a sublime right-footed finish.
Chelsea came forward immediately after the kickoff, Ramires advancing unchallenged through the middle, inexplicably allowed sight of goal. But the Portuguese blasted his effort well over.
Just as it seemed that the visitors would reach halftime on equal standing, Cavani was allowed to get past Branislav Ivanovic as they raced to meet a cross from deep on the right. The Uruguayan reached the back post and threw his shoulder against the delivery, doing enough to divert it into the net and secure a lead at the break.
Napoli started the second half looking to counter and should have extended its lead when Cavani, leading a break through the Chelsea lines, set Lavezzi up with a through-ball on the inside-left channel after Cahill moved out of position, but the Argentine dragged his effort too far wide.
Chelsea was throwing huge numbers forward and had chances, with Malouda mistiming a volley in the box before Drogba nearly found his way between two defenders, Salvatore Aronica just getting a foot in to put the ball out.
The Blues were dominating the half but Luiz made a horrendous mistake at its midway point, attempting to deal with an innocuous long pass forward from Campagnaro by flicking it away with flair but succeeding only in surrendering it to Cavani, who once again passed square to Lavezzi. The forward dispatched it with ease to earn his side a two-goal cushion.
Villas-Boas looked to wrestle back control by summoning Lampard and Essien from the bench but chances dried up at both ends for a period as Chelsea was visibly affected by conceding the third.
The English club was lucky not to see a fourth go past it when, with 10 minutes to go, Cavani held the ball up on the edge of the Blues’ area before laying it off to Hamsik, who controlled and swivelled past a defender before playing it across for the waiting Maggio. The right back tried to sweep it in but Cole kept it out on the line, though the Italian should have taken him out of the equation.
Chelsea labored late in search of another away goal, Lampard hitting a testing long shot into De Sanctis' arms in stoppage time. But it ended with Napoli in control of the tie.
Juan Mata opened the scoring after 27 minutes when an error from Paolo Cannavaro let him in for an easy finish, but Lavezzi hit a classy equalizer on the edge of the area shortly afterwards.
Cavani raced past a ball-watching Branislav Ivanovic to bundle home with his shoulder just before halftime, with Lavezzi deepening the visitors' woes midway through the second period as a result of a calamitous David Luiz mistake.
The hosts boasted a full-strength frontline with Blues target Cavani leading the attack alongside Marek Hamsik and Lavezzi.
Andre Villas-Boas, meanwhile, boldly dropped Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard to the bench, while Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes in favor of Jose Bosingwa. Didier Drogba returned to the starting lineup after the Africa Cup of Nations but captain John Terry missed out ahead of having surgery on Wednesday for a knee problem.
Napoli started well, with Petr Cech called into action early when Cavani evaded Gary Cahill in the box to shoot with venom before the Blues goalkeeper saved well with his foot.
Having started the game ahead of Cole due to the England man’s fitness concerns, Bosingwa was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury just over 10 minutes into proceedings, prompting the first-choice left back’s introduction.
There was a worrying moment for the visitors when Lavezzi attempted a pinpoint pass through the defense, but Cavani strayed offside and the danger passed.
It was then Napoli’s turn to be in trouble, though, with keeper Morgan De Sanctis missing his attempted claiming of Cech’s long kick and nearly letting Florent Malouda in for an open goal before Campagnaro arrived to intervene.
The hosts recovered and just moments later Hamsik fed Christian Maggio on the right flank. The wing back bursted into the area and drew a fine fingertip save from Cech.
Chelsea found a breakthrough in the 27th minute. Throwing large numbers forward, the club put home skipper Cannavaro under pressure and the defender miskicked as he tried to clear Daniel Sturridge’s pass. He succeeded only in playing in Mata, who exuded coolness with a simple sidefooted finish.
As Napoli looked to build a response, the away side countered. Sturridge embarked on a long, quick run down the right. Mata was waiting in the penalty area but the young forward looked to do it all himself and got close, only for his eventual shot to be blocked.
Napoli then got back on level terms just over five minutes before the break. Cavani, on the turn, played it square for Lavezzi on the edge of the area. The Argentine had no trouble moving past Meireles before curling the ball into the bottom corner with a sublime right-footed finish.
Chelsea came forward immediately after the kickoff, Ramires advancing unchallenged through the middle, inexplicably allowed sight of goal. But the Portuguese blasted his effort well over.
Just as it seemed that the visitors would reach halftime on equal standing, Cavani was allowed to get past Branislav Ivanovic as they raced to meet a cross from deep on the right. The Uruguayan reached the back post and threw his shoulder against the delivery, doing enough to divert it into the net and secure a lead at the break.
Napoli started the second half looking to counter and should have extended its lead when Cavani, leading a break through the Chelsea lines, set Lavezzi up with a through-ball on the inside-left channel after Cahill moved out of position, but the Argentine dragged his effort too far wide.
Chelsea was throwing huge numbers forward and had chances, with Malouda mistiming a volley in the box before Drogba nearly found his way between two defenders, Salvatore Aronica just getting a foot in to put the ball out.
The Blues were dominating the half but Luiz made a horrendous mistake at its midway point, attempting to deal with an innocuous long pass forward from Campagnaro by flicking it away with flair but succeeding only in surrendering it to Cavani, who once again passed square to Lavezzi. The forward dispatched it with ease to earn his side a two-goal cushion.
Villas-Boas looked to wrestle back control by summoning Lampard and Essien from the bench but chances dried up at both ends for a period as Chelsea was visibly affected by conceding the third.
The English club was lucky not to see a fourth go past it when, with 10 minutes to go, Cavani held the ball up on the edge of the Blues’ area before laying it off to Hamsik, who controlled and swivelled past a defender before playing it across for the waiting Maggio. The right back tried to sweep it in but Cole kept it out on the line, though the Italian should have taken him out of the equation.
Chelsea labored late in search of another away goal, Lampard hitting a testing long shot into De Sanctis' arms in stoppage time. But it ended with Napoli in control of the tie.
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Goal
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Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
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Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
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Substitution IN
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Goal.com Rating
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Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
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Mario Gomez
Striker FC Bayern München |
13 | 0 |
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10 | 2 |
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7 | 0 |
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Didier Drogba
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6 | 0 |