Villarreal’s comeback stuns Napoli 2-1 - UEFA Europa League match update
Villarreal beat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 2-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League at the Stadio San Paolo on Thursday night. Both teams played a goalless draw in the first leg last week and Villarreal cruise to the round of last 16 with this win.
Juan http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cani-c8305 in a 4-4-2 formation for the hosts. On the other hand, Walter Mazzarri made wholesale changes to his side from the first leg. Their prolific
goal scorer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edinson-Cavani-c11955 was dropped to the bench and Jose Sosa replaced him in a 4-3-3 formation for the visitors.
At the starting whistle Napoli enjoyed early possession and created the first chance of the game. Eziquel Lavezzi found the ball in a counter attacking move and his effort from outside the box, went just wide of the right post. The visitors kept pressing
the Villarreal defence and finally got the reward for their hard work. Marek Hamsik planted his header from six yards, from an in swinging corner from Lavezzi, to put the visitors 1-0 in lead. Moments later, the hosts came extremely close to equalizing, when
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Borja-Valero-c7889 found a ball just outside the visitor’s penalty area and his strike went a whisker over the top right corner. A goal looked inevitable from either side, as both teams had wonderful opportunities of scoring. Villarreal managed to equalise in the
43rd minute, when Valero slipped a beautiful pass to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nilmar-c28044, who slammed a low shot into the back of the net. Moments later, Villarreal took the lead just on the stroke of half time as Valero made a beautiful run from a counter play and fed Giuseppe
Rossi in the box, whose powerful strike went into the goal after taking a deflection off the Napoli defender, to make it 2-1 for the hosts.
Soon after the resumption of the second half, Cavani replaced Sosa, as the visitors pressed hard for a second goal. The substitution almost paid dividends when Cavani’s first touch of the game went just wide of the goal. Both teams enjoyed 50-50 possession
and created equal number of opportunities. The hosts came extremely close to doubling their lead, when Cani picked the ball in acres of space and made a blistering run in the box, before shooting it just over the bar. Napoli bombarded the hosts’ penalty area
with numerous close chances but the resolute defence of Villarreal held onto a close win to qualify for the next round.
The draws for the last 16 round will take place next month.
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