LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - Chelsea’s old guard masterminded one of the club’s greatest European escapes to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, beating Napoli 4-1 after extra time at Stamford Bridge to edge an electrifying tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Serbian Branislav Ivanovic smashed home the winning goal in the 105th minute of an enthralling clash to keep the English flag flying in the competition after both Manchester clubs and Arsenal had fallen by the wayside.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, it was Chelsea’s 30 somethings who provided the inspiration. Didier Drogba opened the scoring and captain John Terry’s header made it 2-0 just after the interval only for Napoli to regain the advantage through Gokhan Inler’s low drive.
Frank Lampard’s penalty 15 minutes from time made it 4-4 on aggregate to send the tie into extra time and it was the 34-year-old Drogba who again showed his class, providing the perfect cut back for Ivanovic to send Chelsea through and keep their dream of a first Champions League triumph alive. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Mark Meadows)
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