Three Is The Joy: Chelsea, Napoli On The Brink Of Europa League Quarters
7th March 2019
Title favourites crush Dynamo Kiev, RB Salzburg by 3-0 apiece in first leg of last-16 ties in London and Naples in that order on Thursday night to put one foot in the last eight
- The Londoners may well need to win the competition to ensure a return to the Champions League next season as they sit sixth in the Premier League, and justified their tag as tournament favourites against the Ukrainians
- But just when the visitors thought they might find a route back into the tie, Chelsea hit them on the counter-attack when Loftus-Cheek teed up Hudson-Odoi for a third that should see the 2013 winners of this competition comfortably through
- Sevilla won the Europa League three years in a row between 2014 and 2016 with Emery as coach, but the most successful side in Europa League history have work to do after twice blowing a lead to draw 2-2 at home to Slavia Prague
LONDON, England- Chelsea dominated Dynamo Kiev to take control of their Europa League last-16 tie as goals from Pedro Rodriguez, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi earned the hosts a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, the same score Italian side Napoli produced at home against RB Salzburg.
The Londoners may well need to win the competition to ensure a return to the Champions League next season as they sit sixth in the Premier League, and justified their tag as tournament favourites against the Ukrainians.
Pedro turned home an intricate backheel from Olivier Giroud to open the scoring on 17 minutes and only some wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping from Denys Boyko kept Kiev in the game before the break.
MUST READ: SportPesa Shield: Holders Sharks Take On Elim, Giants Tusker Pull Out
However, Willian's sweet free-kick and substitute Hudson-Odoi's late third gave the scoreline a fairer reflection of the 90 minutes.
A third straight victory maintains Chelsea's momentum and a much-needed turnaround from Maurizio Sarri, who seemed on the verge of the sack just a few weeks ago.
The Italian left Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain on the bench among six changes, but Chelsea still had far too much quality for the visitors to handle early on.
Pedro took his first clear chance by prodding through Boyko's legs, however the Spaniard should have had plenty more to show for his night's performance.
MUST READ: Iwobi Away Strike Offers 10-Man Arsenal Hope In Rennes Defeat
Raking pass
The former Barcelona winger side-footed a gilt-edged chance straight into Boyko's arms moments later before the Kiev 'keeper flew to his right to deny Pedro once more after he was picked out perfectly by a raking David Luiz pass.
Mykyta Burda then deflected Marcos Alonso's goalbound strike inches wide as Chelsea somehow had to settle for a single-goal lead at half-time.
Sarri's side finally had the breathing space they craved 25 minutes from time when Willian curled a wonderful free-kick into the top corner.
MUST READ: Kenyan Mourns Another Fallen Track Legend, Daniel Rudisha, Father To David Rudisha
Ruben Loftus-Cheek should have killed the tie off completely when the England international blazed over from point-blank range eight minutes from time.
Kiev had barely threatened until the final five minutes and Brazilian Sidcley missed their best chance for an away goal by miscuing a header at the near post.
But just when the visitors thought they might find a route back into the tie, Chelsea hit them on the counter-attack when Loftus-Cheek teed up Hudson-Odoi for a third that should see the 2013 winners of this competition comfortably through.
MUST READ: Drinks To Flow Freely At Magical Kenya Open
Sarri's former side Napoli are also well on course for the quarters as early goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Fabian Ruiz, plus a second-half own goal from Jerome Onguene, earned a 3-0 win over last season's semi-finalists Salzburg.
Missed penalty
Valencia beat Krasnodar thanks to Rodrigo's double at the Mestalla, but Viktor Claesson's second-half strike will give the Russians hope of reaching the last eight on home soil in the second leg.
Inter Milan could regret a missed penalty by Marcelo Brozovic as the Italian giants drew 0-0 away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Napoli's Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz (R) shoots past Salzburg's Malian midfielder Diadie Samassekou to score the 2-0 goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg football match Napoli vs Salzburg on March 7, 2019 at the San Paolo stadium in Naples. PHOTO/AFP
Sevilla won the Europa League three years in a row between 2014 and 2016 with Emery as coach, but the most successful side in Europa League history have work to do after twice blowing a lead to draw 2-2 at home to Slavia Prague.
Villarreal have now won as many games in the Europa League as La Liga this season. Despite languishing in the relegation zone of the Spanish top flight, a 3-1 win away to Zenit Saint Petersburg put them within touching distance of the quarter-finals, while Dinamo Zagreb beat Benfica 1-0.
MUST READ: Drinks To Flow Freely At Magical Kenya Open
Collated Europa League results on Thursday night
Last 16, first leg
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 0 Inter Milan (ITA) 0
Dynamo Zagreb (CRO) 1 (Petkovic 38-pen) Benfica (POR) 0
Sevilla (ESP) 2 (Ben Yedder 1, Munir 28) Slavia Prague (CZE) 2 (Stoch 25, Kral 39)
Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 1 (Azmoun 35) Villarreal (ESP) 3 (Iborra 33, Moreno 64, Morlanes 71)
Rennes (FRA) 3 (Bourigeaud 42, Monreal 65-og, Sarr 88) Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Iwobi 4)
Chelsea (ENG) 3 (Pedro 17, Willian 65, Hudson-Odoi 90) Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 0
Napoli (ITA) 3 (Milik 10, Ruiz 18, Onguene 58-og) Salzburg (AUT) 0
Valencia (ESP) 2 (Rodrigo 12, 24) Krasnodar (RUS) 1 (Claesson 63)
MUST READ: VAR Storm: There Was No Logic To Award That Penalty- PSG Boss Tuchel
2nd legs: March 14