Chelsea through after stunning fightback

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Chelsea 4 Napoli 1 (Chelsea win 5-4 on aggregate)

Chelsea pulled off a sensational second-leg fightback at Stamford Bridge, where Branislav Ivanovic’s extra-time winner sent them into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, they wiped out Napoli’s advantage with Didier Drogba’s header from Ramires’ cross and John Terry’s header from a Frank Lampard corner.

Lampard's penalty was crucial.

The initiative swung back towards the Italians when Gokham Inler fired in, but Lampard levelled the tie by blasting home from the penalty spot after Andrea Dossena’s handball.

And in the final seconds of the first half of extra time, Ivanovic belted Drogba’s low cross into the roof of the net to put his team in the last eight.

It was a glorious night for the club and interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, who has led them to three wins out of three since being placed at the helm following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.

It also served as a reminder of the continued importance of Chelsea’s old guard, with the likes of Lampard, Terry and Drogba playing pivotal roles.

Skipper Terry, recently back from injury, had promised a rousing display – although Chelsea were second best for much of the opening half an hour.

But they found an all-important breakthrough when Ramires’ perfect delivery set up Drogba.

Terry netted three minutes after the interval to leave Napoli needing to score to avoid going out on away goals, and they responded in emphatic fashion, with Inler superbly finding the bottom corner.

Lampard hit back for the home side after Ivanovic’s header struck Dossena’s arm, and Chelsea might have been awarded another penalty late in normal time after Drogba went down in the area.

And in extra time, Blues substitute Fernando Torres shot wide of an unguarded net – albeit from a tight angle – after keeper Morgan De Sanctis had allowed a long ball to bounce over him.

But it was a temporary reprieve for Napoli, who were kept at bay during a nervy final 15 minutes.

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