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Joao Pedro leads Chelsea’s counterattack to help them advance Champions League With two second-half goals, the team defeated Napoli 3-2 at the Diego Maradona Stadium and advanced to the last 16.
They look like they are counting the cost of poor away form in Europe and face a third away defeat in four games. Rasmus Hoylund Napoli took the lead late in the first half.
The Blues needed a win to avoid the play-offs in February and took a gamble with three players at the back Rhys James and Mark Cucurella Playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role and departing from the norm seemed designed to counter the opposition’s favored system, the move showed early promise.
Chelsea looked safe as they took an early lead Enzo FernandezAfter a penalty, suddenly they were stunned by 23-year-old academy graduate Antonio Vergara, whose first goal on just his sixth senior start will not soon be forgotten by this city.
Cole Palmer is reportedly preparing to end his two-and-a-half-year stay in west London and return to Manchester, having been left on the bench after missing out on the win. crystal palaceAfter Naples scored, it seemed like no one at Chelsea could control the ball and create miracles.
Hoylund gave the home side the lead but at that stage the task seemed too big for Chelsea, who underperformed.
Pedro then turned the situation around from scratch, scoring first with a brilliant long-range shot and then outrunning the defense to win the game in the 82nd minute.
Before that, Chelsea had started well. In the 17th minute, James’ free kick was blocked by Juan Jesus.
In the face of hostility from the home fans, Fernandez remained calm and confidently converted the penalty into the bottom corner.
It was the cue for Napoli’s sustained pressure to finally turn the tide of the game.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo rounded the Chelsea backline to meet Roberto Sanchez’s save at the near post and space seemed to open up easily on either side of the three centre-backs as Napoli aimed down the wings.
The equalizer is a fair reflection of their increasing control. A poor clearance from right-back Andrey Santos went nowhere but went straight into possession in the Napoli midfield.
Mathias Olivera nodded the ball to Vergara, who broke into the penalty area and then spun Wesley Fofana He made a ballet move before beating Sanchez through the post.
Later, there were more openings in the box for Oliveira to exploit, and he skated onto the ball with enough space to pick out Hoylund, who got in front of Fofana and scored his first-time shot.
blues boss Liam Ronnie Or Palmer was brought on for some creativity at half-time but Pedro found a moment of genius to equalize. His shot into the top corner from 25 yards was his best goal since joining Chelsea, and probably a valuable one.
Now it’s Chelsea’s turn to dominate and try to score goals that will put them in control of Europe’s destiny.
The game came as scheduled, and Pedro made himself the hero of the Blues, leading the team through the difficulties.
PA