Chelsea 4 - 1 Napoli AET

15/03/2012

Chelsea 4 (1)-(0) 1 Napoli AET

5-4 Aggregate

                                                 Drogba 29'              Inler 55'

                                                 Terry 48'

                                                 Lampard (pen) 75'

                                                 Ivanovic 105'

What a night. What a night for Chelsea Football Club. Against all odds, we managed to turn around a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, into a 5-4 victory at the fortress that is Stamford Bridge. Chelsea became only the third ever English team to turn around a 2+ goal margin in the European Cup since Leeds in 1992. This makes them the only club to have done it in Champions League proper. Such pure determination and passion was required and those who were most criticised, stood up to the plate and lead the team to victory. Roberto Di-Matteo did what no-one thought was possible and provided Chelsea with an F.A cup quarter final, a Champions League quarter final and a big chance at 4th spot. The togetherness of the team last night and the performance in general has silenced a few haters and gained the admiration of a lot of neutrals. Before the draw was even made, I had bookmarked Napoli as one to avoid after seeing their attacking fluidity and desire in the group stages against Manchester City. Once the draw was made, I knew we had a hard fight on our hands, and we couldn't of made it any harder. Abysmal form and changing of managers was the last thing anyone would have wanted going into such a tricky two legged tie. Di-Matteo has really put his name out there for the permanent job with such an inspirational victory. I often said he had the bigger tests to come, and it doesn't get much bigger than that. The turn around gives Chelsea their 7th Champions league quarter final in 9 years. Better than any other team in Europe, above even Barcelona on 6.

The Goals

At the start there was no way I thought that Chelsea would score 4 goals. I had predicted a 2-0 at best or a 2-1 more realistic result. I definitely thought that Napoli would score at least one on the night, if not more. In a time where goals were getting harder to come by, 4 different scorers all got on the score sheet with at least 1 player from each line of the formation. Didier Drogba opened the scoring for Chelsea in absolute classic fashion. Drogba built his career on running across defenders to get a power header in on goal, and defined that ability last night. Ramires (who I have criticised for his crossing ability) received the ball in a lot of space on the left hand side, he was given time to both bring the ball onto his favoured right foot and set it ready for a cross. He whipped the ball in perfectly towards Drogba who timed his run to perfection in order to meet the ball ahead of the defender and steer the ball beyond De Sanctis setting the mood for the night. 

Throughout the night, we had been looking extremely dangerous from corners often winning the first header, however, not being able to convert. Early in the second half, we made it count. Terry made a bursting run to the front post - a run which was un-followed as Inler left him to run while he stood still for the remaining seconds of the play. Once the corner had beaten Drogba at the front post, behind him, Terry rose highest to flick the ball towards the far corner while keeping a great deal of power on the ball. From the moment the header was won, the ball was destined for the net. More so as Napoli had decided to abandon both posts on corners. Had there of been a  man on the back post, perhaps it would have been a different story with a clearance off the line. The goal meant that if nothing else changed, Chelsea would progress to the next round on the away goals rule, (3-3) on aggregate. 

Such conditions only lasted 7 minutes however. The dozing Inler for Terry's goal found himself in too much space from a cleared cross curled in from Lavezzi. It allowed Inler to chest the ball forward ready to unleash a well executed hald volley low and hard into the bottom left hand corner. Multiple Chelsea players charged out to try and close the space. However, it was almost like this worked against Chelsea. The rapid shutting down of Inler forced a 'just smash it now or never' mentality which this time happened to be a beautiful strike. Taking nothing away from the player as it was fantastic technique, I just wonder whether that would have been the same out come had he had more time to think. Sometimes the instinct smashes are when the true ability flourishes. 

Currently, Chelsea were going out and needed 1 goal just to take it to extra time, another Napoli goal at this point would require Chelsea to score a massive 3 goals in the time that remained. Yet another corner for Chelsea created the 3rd goal. Ivanovic this time at the front post was able to get a bullet header away which looked destined to cause the keeper more problems, although it's flight was prevented from close range. Prevented by a hand. Rightly, a penalty was given and it was up to Frank Lampard to bury another defining moment in Chelsea history. He'd been there before, but with a 50% conversion rate this season, there was a feeling that it wasn't so straight forward this time. Lampard went for pure power this time thundering the ball home slightly to the keepers right. Anticipating a well placed penalty, De Sanctis dove too far and too low to prevent Lampards strike despite diving the right way.

In the 89'th minute, another Ramires cross from the left looked like it once again made Drogba favourite for a winning header from close range. However, this optimism was short lived once the Napoli player had got Drogba around the neck haling him to the floor. The appeals when up from everyone around the ground but the referee and his assistant weren't going to be moved into giving a second penalty. Thoughts went back to the denied penalties of Barcelona and Inter Milan which were also cast iron. It always seems to happen to Chelsea in the Champions League. Although we had already received one penalty in the match, it didn't make that incident any less than a foul. Ultimately, with the penalty appeals waved away, the match went into extra time.   

104 minutes on the clock was when the tie shifted in Chelsea's favour for the final time. Ramires, surrounded by 3 players with nowhere to go. He found Drogba with a 'toe poked' pass. Drogba was quick to act controlling the ball with his back foot like a standing 'chop' which desieved the defender long enough to gain a yard and pull the ball back to a vacant Ivanovic who was taking no second chances and absolutely leathered the ball high into the roof of the net before the keeper could even move. Ivanovic had stayed up from the previous free kick which had come to nothing. With Torres marked at the back post and the CB taking Malouda as the priority by following his near post run. It left the Chelsea centre back completely un-marked in the middle. Nothing changed for Napoli with that goal, they still needed to score one to progress, the only difference now was that penalties were an impossibility and Chelsea were heading through. 

Holding on

Once the Ivanovic chance had been converted, it definitely became back to the wall time for Chelsea while Napoli threw the kitchen sink into finding a winner. Despite which, it was Drogba who showed his experience and hold up play to continuously eat up the remaining time throughout the second period of extra time. He almost dropped into a 5th CM role and just chased down every ball and used his strength has 'experience' to win free kicks disrupting the flow of Napoli attacks never allowing any lengthened period of pressure on the back four. He could even have sealed in late on in extra time but the tired legs couldn't quite convert a volley from midway inside the box due to a break as a result from Napoli over committing. A lot has been said about 'the old guard' throughout the season, but it can not be denied that their experience and ability shone through raising the level of play for every Chelsea player and inspiring the victory.

Player Ratings

Cech - 8/10

At absolutely no fault at the goal as he was beaten by a simply unstoppable strike. No other errors throughout stopping Lavezzi and Hamsik early on in the match. A couple of nervy saves that looked simple were parried wide however, can't complain too much.

Ivanovic - 10/10

For more or less 3 years now, Ivanovic has been played all over the back 4 despite being a natural CB. Throughout this time he has never complained and has performed solidly time after time. Yet another storming performance from the big Serb with the defining winning goal and winning the penalty. Could easily have been my man of the match.

Terry - 9/10

One of the old guard with a massive role in the match. Absent from the first leg, he looked doubtful to make the second leg but thankfully for Chelsea he made it in time and provided the key leadership from the back winning tackles and keeping the defence organised throughout the match. Scored from the corner to further enhance his rating.

Luiz - 8/10

Had his serious head on today and did nothing crazy or rash in the match learning from the previous tie and got rid of danger balls early a posed to taking a touch and trying to make a pass himself. He stepped in and read the play at key times to break up Napoli attacks. Panicked a few times with scuffed clearances despite being in space, picked over Cahill who I think could have performed equally as well.  

Cole - 7/10

Quiet night from the English left back, with restricted opportunities to overlap and get a ball in. Did his work well defensively and just did his job.

Essien - 7/10

Similarly to Cole, just did his job and occupied the space preventing fast Napoli counter attacks. Slipped in comfortably when players got out of position and overall kept a good balance in the side. Nothing amazing while doing nothing wrong.

Lampard - 8/10

He may not be as fast as he used to be but he reads the play extremely well, this experience allows him to get away with his lost pace at times. Obviously converted his penalty in typical style. Wouldn't have wanted any other Chelsea player over it. Continuously spread the play well, linking defence to attack. 

Ramires - 9/10

This man has an absolute engine on him. Sprints from the first minute until the last capitalising on his better fitness in the latter stages of the match. Gave the Napoli right hand side no mercy with relentless pressure including an assist and the split second pass to Drogba allowing him to set up the winner. Could definitely be leading candidate for player of the season at Chelsea all down to his work rate.

Mata - 7/10

Disappointingly quiet night from such an exciting player. Aware of his threat, Napoli ensured he never got too much time on the ball, similarly to how Chelsea dealt with Lavezzi for the majority of the match.  

Sturridge - 7/10

An almost identical synopsis as Mata's could be written about Sturridge too. Had the first chance of the match but other than that didn't really provide what is now expected of him. As a result an average score for an average performance.

Drogba - 10/10 M.O.M

Oh, Didier Drogba. You do like to come out for the big games. Dominated the match in many senses scoring the vital opening goal allowing more to flow through. The first goal was always going to be the hardest and it took a header that only Drogba could score to do it. Assisted the Ivanovic's winner and chased the ball relentlessly and tirelessly throughout extra time still mustering enough energy to hold off players once in possession. A scary though of life without Drogba in such big occasions. In his last year of his contract at Chelsea and wanting to sign another 2 year deal. The club only offering 1. I personally would like to see us offer him the two years. Although I don't see him being a starting player in 2 years. I do know we are not ready for life without him and need him next year. 

P.S

I wonder if AVB watched the game last night?