“I Know I Scored a Beautiful Goal, But You Were the Best Player Today” — Joao Pedro Emotional Tribute to Departing Chelsea Teammate I can’t believe you have played your last game for us”: Chelsea Number 9 Joao Pedro sent emotional message to ONE Chelsea team mates who has just played his last game for the club against Napoli. Joao Pedro HAS SHED TEARS OVER THAT GUY EXIT
Chelsea produced a stunning second-half comeback against Napoli, with Joao Pedro scoring twice to secure their place in the Champions League’s top eight and send the Italian side crashing out of the competition.
Although Enzo Fernandez had given Chelsea an early lead from the penalty spot, goals from Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund turned the game on its head before halftime, leaving the visitors facing elimination.
Everything changed after the break when Cole Palmer was introduced, and the England international proved instrumental in creating both of Joao Pedro’s match-winning goals.
The final whistle brought heartbreak for Napoli and jubilation for Chelsea, who booked their spot in the last 16.
Chelsea started brightly, with captain Reece James forcing a penalty in the 18th minute when his free-kick struck the arm of Juan Jesus. Fernandez stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Conceding the opener injected fresh urgency into Antonio Conte’s Napoli side, with defenders Mathias Olivera and Giovanni di Lorenzo both going close before the home team found their breakthrough.
Napoli’s equalizer came courtesy of a magnificent first goal for the club from local hero Antonio Vergara. The midfielder danced past Moises Caicedo, spun away from Wesley Fofana, and calmly slotted his finish beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Just ten minutes after Vergara’s 33rd-minute strike, Napoli doubled their advantage through Rasmus Hojlund. The Manchester United loanee beat Fofana to Olivera’s low cross and guided a clinical first-time finish into the corner of the net.
At the interval, Palmer—who had been nursing a thigh injury—replaced Pedro Neto and immediately transformed the game.
The substitute’s influence was evident when he picked out Joao Pedro in the 61st minute, with the Brazilian brushing off his marker before unleashing a powerful equalizer from the edge of the area.
Palmer then turned provider again during a swift counterattack, releasing Joao Pedro to slide an 82nd-minute winner through the legs of Napoli goalkeeper Meret.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku had one final opportunity to rescue a point for Napoli against his former employers, but his stoppage-time effort lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Sanchez.
While the Italian champions bow out of European competition, Chelsea avoid the February play-off round and march straight into the last 16 at the first time of asking.
