Chelsea 4-1 Napoli - Match Report

By Chris Deacon / August 12, 2013

CHELSEA - 4 - Drogba (29), Terry (48), Lampard (75pen), Ivanovic (105)NAPOLI - 1 - Inler (55) Branislav Ivanovic scored in extra time at Stamford Bridge to send Chelsea through to the Champions League Quarter-Finals 5-4 on aggregate, with Napoli crumbling to a 1-4 defeat on the night. Going into the game, the blues had to overturn a 3-1 first leg defeat they suffered in Naples under ex-manager Andre Villas-Boas. Interim boss Roberto di Matteo decided to favour experience over youth, starting both John Terry and Didier Drogba who scored the opening goals in the first half. Gokhan Inler gave the Serie A side the aggregate advantage when he smashed home a volley just after half time, but Frank Lampard scored a late penalty to send the game into an extra half an hour. Drogba then turned provider in the first added period, setting up Ivanovic in the middle of the penalty area to finish the tie in style. As the final whistle sounded Di Matteo raced to meet his players on the field, congratulating each one he came to with a bear hug. Clearly team spirit is high, with AVB's departure doing more to encourage the squad than Roman Abramovich could have ever imagined. The win also ensures the Premier League has a representative in the Quarter-Finals. The draw, held tomorrow, will be made up of eight sides from seven nations: APOEL (Cyprus), Barcelona (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany), Benfica (Portugal), Chelsea (England), Marseille (France), AC Milan (Italy), Real Madrid (Spain). REF: F. Brych (GER) ATTENDANCE: 37,784 Chelsea squad (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry (C) (Bosingwa 98), David Luiz, Cole; Essien, Lampard; Ramires, Mata (Malouda 95), Sturridge (Torres 63); Drogba Unused Subs: Turnbull, Cahill, Mikel, Kalou Napoli squad (4-4-2): De Sanctis; Aronica (Vargas 110), Campagnaro, Zuniga, Cannavaro; Maggio (Dossena 36), Hamsik (Pandev 106), Gargano, Inler; Cavani, Levezzi Unused Subs: Rosati, Fernandez, Britos, Dzemaili