Napoli 3 Chelsea 1
Chelsea’s Champions League future hangs in the balance after they were beaten in a compelling first-leg encounter in Naples.
The evening started badly for them and under-fire manager Andre Villas-Boas with news that skipper John Terry would miss the game with knee problem which could sideline him for another six weeks.
But their away goal, scored by Juan Mata, means they at least have a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Mata’s composed sidefoot finish put the Blues ahead but Napoli scored twice in the closing stages of the first period to lead at the break through Ezequiel Lavezzi’s classy 18-yard strike and Edinson Cavani’s improvised shouldered effort.
Chelsea dominated for 20 minutes after the interval and had several excellent chances to draw level, only for Lavezzi to net his second after fine work by Cavani.
The result was particularly harsh on the visitors but it would have been even worse had Ashley Cole not cleared Christian Maggio’s late effort off the line.
A winless run of four games – including a demoralising home draw with Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday – had ramped up the pressure on Villas-Boas.
But although the result did nothing to ease that pressure, even the Portuguese’s harshest critic would struggle to fault the performance.
There were worryingly familiar signs of the carelessness in possession in midfield so prevalent in recent displays, and the otherwise excellent David Luiz will rue his contribution to the home side’s third goal.
But Chelsea were extremely unlucky to trail at the break and even more unfortunate not to find at least one more away goal after the interval.
Blues keeper Petr Cech did have to make two excellent early stops, keeping out Cavani’s low strike with his feet and then diving to his right to divert Maggio’s cross-shot past the post.
But having recovered from a slightly nervy beginning in which the Italians looked bright, inventive and dangerous going forward, Chelsea began to settle and a more direct approach troubled Napoli’s ageing, and somewhat immobile, three-man defence.
Didier Drogba began to dominate in the air and Chelsea started to boss possession and look threatening.
They scored with their first real sight of goal when some fine pressing in midfield eventually led to a rushed miscued clearance by Paulo Cannavaro which looped up invitingly for Mata, who stroked the ball past Morgan De Sanctis.
Suddenly Napoli started to appear vulnerable and when Luiz headed over from a corner, a second away goal seemed on the cards.
But Lavezzi was given too much space in midfield and, after a neat turn on the edge of the box, he easily beat Cech with a fine curling strike.
Ramirez immediately wasted a stunning chance to restore the lead.
Chelsea patiently retained possession on the right, enabling the Brazilian to cut inside and bear down on goal, but he panicked and lashed the ball wildly over the bar.
And the hosts made Chelsea pay in first-half stoppage time when Cavani ran round the back of Branislav Ivanovic at the far post and forced the ball past Cech from Gokhan Inler’s exquisite cross
The first half laid the platform for an intriguing and amazingly open second 45 minutes.
Malouda had a decent strike comfortably saved, Mata tested the keeper with a well-struck volley, and Drogba nearly got on the end of a fabulous Malouda through-ball.
Gary Cahill, playing his first Champions League tie, also headed wide as Chelsea piled forward.
But although defensively suspect, Napoli’s attacking threat remained and the open nature of the game played into their counter-attacking style.
Lavezzi screwed a shot across goal when it seemed certain he would find the bottom corner.
But the same man soon had his second goal.
Cavani chased a pass over the top and Luiz tried to flick the ball away and keep possession, but it dropped kindly to Cavani and he squared the ball to Lavezzi, who easily beat the out-of-position Cech.
Chelsea still had the greater threat and although they failed to find the second away goal they so desperately craved, they will at least return to Stamford Bridge for the second leg knowing they are still in the tie.
Cole’s wonderful clearance has at least made certain of that – but it will still take something special to ensure progress into the last eight.
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This post was last modified on 25/02/2012
