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Europa League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 23, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 
Wolfsburg

2-2

Maria Callejon (50'), Mertens (65')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Klose (71'), Perisic (73')

Dieter Hecking laments first-leg complacency

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking says that a limp first-leg performance in their Europa League tie with Napoli undermined the Germans in their semi-final bid.

Dieter Hecking has said that complacency ultimately cost his Wolfsburg side a spot in the Europa League semi-finals following their elimination by Napoli.

The Italians, who went into last night's second leg in Naples with a 4-1 lead, finished the job by drawing 2-2 on the night to move into the semi-finals with a 6-3 aggregate win.

"I want to compliment Napoli and Rafa Benitez, as they deserved qualification," he told reporters.

"The obstacle was probably too big for us to overcome. We played well in the first half and expected to score, but instead Napoli emerged after the break with their quality and it became difficult after going 2-0 down.

"Of course there are regrets about the first leg, as I cannot say we didn't make mistakes, even if Napoli have quality on the counter. In the first leg we were too confident that we could turn the early goal around, the way we did against Inter, but Napoli have other qualities and they punished us on the counter-attack."

Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens sent the hosts 2-0 ahead by 65 minutes, before a quickfire double from Timm Klose and Ivan Perisic earned a draw.

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Napoli's player Gokhan Inler vies with VfL Wolfsburg player Ricardo Rodriguez during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg match between SSC Napoli and VfL Wolfsburg on April 23, 2015
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