Europa League

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Europa League | Quarter-Finals

Apr 23, 2015 at 8.05pm UK

Napoli
2-2
Wolfsburg

Maria Callejon (50'), Mertens (65')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Klose (71'), Perisic (73')

Late Wolfsburg rally too little too late as Napoli soar into Europa League semi-finals

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 23 April 2015

Napoli progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League despite being put to the sword against Wolfsburg in a 2-2 draw in their quarter-final second leg at the San Paolo.

Napoli have stormed into the semi-finals of the Europa League despite being put to the sword against Wolfsburg in a 2-2 draw in their quarter-final second leg at the San Paolo.

Jose Maria Callejon of Napoli celebrates after scoring goal 1-0 during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg match between SSC Napoli and VfL Wolfsburg on April 23, 2015 © Getty Images

The visitors, needing to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first leg in Germany, set about trying to get a goal immediately, and pushed forward from the off.

Within the first minute, Daniel Caligiuri charged down the right flank before whipping in a dangerous cross that Ivan Perisic flicked goalwards.

The ball bounced deceivingly high, with goalkeeper Mariano Andujar having to leap to his right to parry away from goal.

Wolfsburg continued to press and saw Nicklas Bendtner's header from Christian Trasch's cross fly just wide in the eighth minute.

Midway through the first half Trasch also missed the target with a shot from the area, while Caligiuri and Josuha Guilavogui forced blocks from the opposition defence.

Wolfsburg's defender from Switzerland Timm Klose celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg football match SSC Napoli vs VFL Wolfsburg on April 23, 2015 © Getty Images

It remained goalless at the break, but any hopes, no matter how faint, that Wolfsburg harboured of getting back in the tie were extinguished five minutes after the restart.

Jose Callejon found space outside the box and let rip with a long-range strike as a deflection took the ball inside the near post and beyond Diego Benaglio.

Napoli added a second not long after the hour mark when Gonzalo Higuain teed up Dries Mertens, whose first effort was saved by Benaglio before the ball fell at the Belgian's feet for a rebound into the top corner.

Dieter Hecking's charges, eager to restore some pride, pulled a goal back in the 71st minute courtesy of Timm Klose's header low into the net following Maximilian Arnold's cross.

Just two minutes later the visitors shocked the home crowd by levelling the score on the night when Guilavogui's cross allowed Perisic to nod home.

Despite this promising fightback, it proved too little too late for Wolfsburg as Napoli comfortably saw out the rest of the game to progress 6-3 on aggregate.