7M - Joao Pedro Fires Chelsea to Champions League Round of 16, Eliminates Napoli

Brazilian forward Joao Pedro slammed home two sensational second-half goals in Naples, steering Chelsea to a dramatic comeback win after falling behind at the break and clinching a sixth-place finish in the Champions League League Phase – a result that secures the Blues a direct spot in the Round of 16 and ends Napoli’s European campaign.

Chelsea looked set for a playoff berth at halftime, as an injury-stricken Napoli side – who needed a victory to stay in the competition – took the lead with goals from Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund. But Pedro hauled the Blues level with a thunderous strike in the 61st minute, then sealed a vital away triumph eight minutes from full-time after latching onto a precise pass from Cole Palmer.

His match-winning brace caps an impressive start to Liam Rosenior’s reign as Chelsea manager, with the boss guiding the London club to five wins from his first six games in charge. Chelsea’s only defeat in that run was a narrow loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal in the English League Cup, and the Blues showcased grit and composure to claim victory in the hostile atmosphere of Napoli’s home ground.

Napoli were without a host of first-team regulars for the clash, including long-term absentees Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa, and their valiant display ultimately proved in vain as they exited the Champions League at the end of a deeply underwhelming European campaign. Antonio Conte’s side received a warm round of applause from the home crowd at the final whistle, a tribute to their courageous yet fruitless bid to remain in Europe’s top club competition.

The tie’s early stages were marred by controversy, with Napoli left furious at the ninth-minute penalty award that let Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea ahead – a decision given for a handball by Juan Jesus. The contentious call only galvanised the Italian side, who immediately piled pressure on the Blues and drew level through a brilliant solo effort from Vergara. The forward spun Wesley Fofana with exquisite skill before slotting a smart low finish past Robert Sanchez, racing off the pitch in unbridled joy after scoring his first senior goal for his boyhood club in just his fifth start.

A product of Napoli’s youth academy, the 23-year-old spent the previous two seasons on loan at Reggiana in Italy’s second tier and was only in the starting XI due to Napoli’s chronic injury crisis. His goal was followed just 10 minutes later by more home joy, as the stands erupted for Hojlund – who expertly nipped in front of a disjointed Fofana to thunder home a low cross from Mathias Olivera and put Napoli in front.

Buoyed by the fervent home support, Napoli continued to dictate the tempo after the interval, but their momentum was shattered in an instant by Pedro’s blistering strike that restored parity for Chelsea, leaving the stadium in stunned silence. If that first goal was a sucker punch for the hosts, his second was the knockout blow: the Brazilian forward surged almost unopposed into the Napoli penalty area before firing a powerful low finish into the net, sealing a famous comeback win for Chelsea and heartbreak for the Italian side.