REPORT

Naples – Naples performed dominated in the first leg of Champions League round 16 that took place at Napoli’s home, San Paolo stadium, Wednesday (22/2). Napoli 2-1 advantage at the end of the first half had widened after Cavezzi score to make Napoli a 3-1 advantage.

Left behind 1-0 in the 27th minute from Chelsea,  makes the host power even larger. Napoli, which from beginning master the game continues to confine the defense of Chelsea.

Napoli create opportunities several times, but only in the 38th minute Napoli managed to equalize through a goal scored by  Ezequiel Lavezzi. Starting from Cavani, Lavezzi measured successfully launched a kick to the left of goalkeeper Peter Cech.

Napoli stays over Chelsea after that. Do not want to lose momentum, Napoli continued to organize the attack. As a result, at minute 46  Edinson Cavani successfully escaped from Chelsea defend and 2-1 to reverse the situation for Napoli.

Into the second half, Chelsea trying to develop game. However, Napoli’s determination makes the Chelsea players can not do much.

Utilizing the Chelsea defender error, Lavezzi scored his second to make Napoli winning 3-1.

It’s David Luiz which makes mistake in the Chelsea defense box. While he want to kick the ball out of field, it fell at the feet of Lavani. Cech which is out of the nest was successfully swindled by Lavani before finally giving the ball to Lavezzi in free position.

Freely Lavezzi struck the ball into the goal which left by Peter Cech. Napoli was a temporary 3-1 lead.

Score this lasted until the end of the game.

Andre Villas Boas Position in Danger

Napoli added pressure on Andre Villas-Boas and put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals, with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in the first match at the San Paolo Stadium on Tuesday (21/2) local time.

Ezequiel Lavezzi scored while Edinson Cavani’s scored third goal, after Juan Mata make the visitor lead 1-0.

Villas-Boas will now face more questions about his future, while his team teetering on the domestic league and still not sure whether to step in the fifth round of the FA Cup after playing draw with first division team, Birmingham City.

2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in the second round of 16 in the next three weeks will be enough to pass this West London club to go to the next round, but looking from  last game , Chelsea does not seem able to keep his net clean to any team.

The absence of a central defender and captain, John Terry, characterized by fragility of the duo David Luiz and Gary Cahill to guard the heart of the Chelsea defense.

And the fact that Terry will be out for six weeks because he had to undergo knee surgery – news that was delivered before the game – Chelsea back line must improve its quality in the near future.

But it is not visible when facing Napoli which is very good at counter-attack – as they did against Manchester City at the group phase – even though the defense of Napoli is not much better than The Blues.

Villas-Boas compiled a surprising composition on the front lines, where he placed Daniel Sturridge, eyes, and Florent Malouda in the back of Didier Drogba.

This was done by Villas-Boas to presents an entertaining game, but Chelsea’s back line was more exposed.

Gokhan Inler give feedback on Cavani in the ninth minute, after Cahill slipped, the Uruguayan striker had time to control the ball and fired a shot which Petr Cech still able to save.

Czech goalkeeper was back to rescue his net, when Lavezzi received the ball from Maggio kick. Mata makes Chelsea leads in advance through the goal in the 27th minute.

After getting the ball, Sturridge trying to  give to this Spanish player. Paolo Cannavaro tries to throw the ball, but the ball unfortunately fell to the feet Mata, who calmly let the ball drop and fired a shot into the Napoli goal.

Luiz then beat goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis to welcome Mata corner kick, but his header bounced over the goalkeeper.

Counterweight goal  occurred in the 38th minute when Lavezzi managed to outwit Raul Meireles, to make room for himself on the edge of the fire box, where he shot curved kick which failed to anticipate by Cech.

Brazil players, Ramires, duplicate Lavezzi action, but he failed to equal the final settlement of Lavezzi. And at the last minute of the first half, Inler feeding the ball to Cavani, who was in front of Cahill. Cavani, then welcome the bait with a header from close range.

In the second half, Meireles fatal error – could not play in the second game after receiving a yellow card – make Lavezzi had a chance, but the Argentina players are failing to maximize the opportunity.

Chelsea tried to increase the pressure, but the opportunities from Drogba, Mata,  Malouda and Cahill no bother Napoli goalkeeper, and they also have to pay for having wasted many opportunities they had.

Napoli created the third goal in the 65th minute, when Luiz hesitate to anticipate a long pass, and Cavani steal the ball, outwit Cech, and handed the ball to the left side, where Lavezzi fired a shot past Cahill.

The situation may be worse for Chelsea when the last ten minutes, Marek Hamsik slipped into The Blues back line, and sent a cross to Maggio, but Ashley Cole managed to throw the ball before it crossed the line.

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