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Europa League | Round-Of-16
Mar 19, 2015 at 5pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Dynamo Moscow (1)0-0(3) Napoli - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Dynamo Moscow (1)0-0(3) Napoli - as it happened: ID:212222: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the Europa League tie between Napoli and Dynamo Moscow.

A goalless second leg has allowed Napoli to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals at the expense of Dynamo Moscow.

The Italian side had a 3-1 lead after the first leg, but the hosts looked dangerous in the first half as they had two goals disallowed.

Rafael Benitez's side came close to adding to their advantage too, striking the woodwork three times.

Read how all the action unfolded below.

Good afternoon! Napoli head into the second leg of their Europa League tie with a 3-1 lead from last week's meeting. With kickoff just half an hour away at Arena Khimki, let's take a look at the team news.
DYNAMO MOSCOW STARTING XI: Gabulov, Buttner, Samba, Hubocan, Kozlov, Vainqueur, Dzsudzak, Kokorin, Zhirkov, Valbuena, Kuranyi
NAPOLI STARTING XI: Andujar, Britos, Maggio, Ghoulam, Albiol, Callejon, Jorginho, Mertens, Lopez, Gabbiadini, Higuain
DYNAMO MOSCOW SUBSTITUTES: Shunin, Franco, Rotenberg, Danilkin, Yusupov, Ionov, Tashaev
NAPOLI SUBSTITUTES: Rafael, Henrique, Zuniga, De Guzman, Hamsik, Inler Zapata
Unsurprisingly, Gonzalo Higuain keeps his place up front for Napoli after netting a hat-trick in the first leg. Meanwhile, Juan Zuniga, who has not started a game since October, is on the bench as he continues his comeback from injury.
The hosts are missing Roman Zobnin after he was sent off in the first leg in Italy last week. Igor Denisov is also out as he has a leg injury, so Mathieu Valbuena and Kevin Kuranyi start up front.
Ahead of this match, Napoli coach Rafael Benitez told reporters: "We won the first leg 3-1 but that does not mean that we will be defensive in Moscow. We are going there to win, we will not change our style, that is our mentality in every game. There are so many players of Dynamo that should not be underestimated. We were sloppy in defence in the last game and we were punished with the goal; this time we will be more focused and will be more intense."
Meanwhile, Stanislav Cherchesov said at his pre-match press conference: "I am certain that we still have a chance at going through to the next round. I believe in my players and I know that the support of our fans at home will be crucial."
Here's a look at tonight's stadium courtesy of Napoli's Twitter account:

PREDICTION! With just a few minutes until kickoff, there's just time for a quick prediction. Napoli certainly come in as favourites, but a loss in the league at the weekend may give Moscow hope. Realistically, a goal would end the Russian side's hope though, so I'm going for a 2-1 win to Napoli this evening, seeing the Italians through on aggregate.
The players are on the pitch ready for kickoff. It's a packed stadium this evening, and the Moscow fans are certainly making themselves heard as the teams line up.
KICKOFF! The home side get the match underway.
There have been no opening chances to mention, but the hosts have had the majority of the possession so far, with Kuranyi looking to get involved up front, but't control the long ball forward.
Napoli have the first corner of the match, and Gabbiadini whips it in towards Maggio, who has been left unmarked. The defender rises up high to go for a free header, but the captain can't get enough behind it. That's a missed opportunity for the visitors to settle any lingering nerves.
Dynamo are back on the attack, with Valbuena looking for Kuranyi again, but the striker is beaten to the ball, although the hosts do have a corner. They take it short, but nothing comes from it. It's been a lively start to the match, with both sides putting their opponents under pressure at the back, but neither of the keepers have had much to worry about yet.
Chris Samba comes forward as the home side win a free kick in a dangerous position, and the defender muscles his way into space, but Kuranyi drifts offside as the ball is played in, so Samba can't get his shot away.
OFF THE POST! From nowhere, Dries Mertens comes within the smallest of margins of putting Napoli ahead as he curls the ball towards the top corner from just outside the box. Gabulov gets the slightest of touches to it though, just forcing it into the woodwork. That was superbly struck by Mertens!
Napoli are definitely looking the more dangerous of the two sides at the minute as Mertens tries to create something for the visitors again, but this time he looks for Higuain instead of taking it on himself, and his delivery into the area is headed clear.
OFF THE POST! Napoli hit the woodwork again as Callejon burst through for meet a low through-ball from Albiol, but he hesitates, possibly worrying about the offside flag, before forcing his shot onto the outside of the left post.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Chris Samba thinks that he's opened the scoring as he nods the ball into the back of the net from a Valbuena free kick, but the defender was just offside, and the assistant referee raises his flag. Moscow immediately come under pressure down the other end as Napoli try to catch the hosts out on the counter, but Gabulov manages to claim it.
CHANCE! Gabbiadini makes a quick break through the middle, and has support either side of him, but he takes it on himself, and ends up firing it straight at Gabulov, who makes the catch with ease.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Dynamo Moscow have the ball in the back of the net again as Kuranyi heads it in from a Valbuena high ball forward, but the striker is offside. Two goals would be enough for the home side if they can prevent the visitors from scoring, but they need to be more disciplined when making their runs at goal.
After a rather frantic few minutes, it's settled down in the last couple of minutes, with Napoli patiently building possession in midfield as they continue to push for for an opening goal. A couple of balls find their way into the box, but they go straight through to the keeper.
The home side try to play their way out from the back, with Valbuena picking it up on the wing before looking for Dzsudzak, but his low ball forward was intercepted before it could find the midfielder. Moscow may have had the ball in the back of the net a couple of times, but they haven't had quite the same level of intensity on the attack so far.
Napoli force their fourth corner of the match so far, but Mertens's curling effort is headed clear with ease by Kozlov, but the home side can't make the most of the block with a counter attack.
Napoli win a free kick around 35 yards out, which Mertens floats in towards Higuain. The striker uses his pace to control it, but he's out wide and hasn't got anyway waiting in the middle for him.
The home side suddenly make a break down the other end as Kokorin rounds a couple of defenders before slotting a pass through for Zhirkov, but the midfielder stumbles as he tries to get his shot away, and Napoli quickly push back towards the Moscow goal.
Dynamo are finishing the half strongly as they try to reduce the first-leg deficit as Valbuena crosses the ball in for Kuranyi again, but he can't control it with his first touch, and it's out behind for a goal kick.
Moscow patiently make their way forward again, before Valbuena cuts inside in a bid to set up Kuranyi, but some solid defending from Maggio ensures that he can't connect with his strike partner. Moscow are relying a little too much on finding Kuranyi.
BOOKING! Napoli captain Christian Maggio is the first player booked as he leaves the boot in on Zhirkov right on the edge of the box.
CHANCE! Valbuena tries to curl the ball in towards goal from the free kick, but his initial effort fails to clear the wall, while the rebound drifts just high of the crossbar.
Mertens appears to have picked up a head injury while defending the free kick, and he had to make his way to the sideline, looking a little dazed.
HALF TIME: Dynamo Moscow 0-0 Napoli
Much to the frustration of the hosts, it's goalless as the players make their way off the pitch at half time. Napoli have looked the more dangerous, hitting the woodwork twice, but Moscow have had the ball in the net, with two efforts chalked off for offside.
In the opening 45 minutes, Dynamo just edged the possession with 51%. They also had nine shots to Napoli's six, just two of which were on target. The most costly stat for Moscow though it the three offsides, two of which have resulted in goals being disallowed.
This was the scene just before kickoff. As you can see, the stadium is almost full, and the fans have certainly been doing their bit to lift the home side:

Should Moscow manage to get themselves back into the tie in the second half, Napoli certainly have strength on their bench. Duvan Zapata could come on as a second striker, while Marek Hamsik and Jonathan de Guzman are available to boost the midfield.
The players are making their way back out ready for the second half.
RESTART! The hosts get the action back underway!
Napoli have made the stronger start to the second half as they try to get forward early on, but Hubocan spots the danger as makes the clearance for the home side.
CHANCE! The hosts almost get the opening goal down the other end as Kokorin curls the ball in for Kuranyi, whose header forcing Andujar to turn the ball behind at full stretch, but the visitors are alert to deal with the resulting corner.
Buttner gets forward to set up Kokorin for an effort just inside the box, but the midfielder's touch on the turn is poor, allowing Maggio to steal it back and get the visitors on the counter, but Higuain is the only one who gets forward, leaving the striker to be crowded out.
BOOKING! Dries Mertens goes into the book after catching Zhirkov with a flailing arm.
Dynamo continue to push, with Buttner on the attack again, he tries to cut it back for Kokorin, but Britos gets to it first and boots it behind for the corner. Moscow have a bit more urgency about them now, but they can't quite get the better of the Napoli defence.
CHANCE! Moscow force their third corner since the restart, and Valbuena whips it in towards Samba, but Andujar almost picks it off the defender's head to make sure he doesn't nod it in. The keeper launches his clearance deep, and finds Higuain, but the striker mis-hits his finish, slicing it high of the crossbar.
OFF THE POST! For the third time tonight, Napoli are denied by the post as Gabbiadini tries his luck with a driven effort from just outside the box, but it's just a fraction off target.
CHANCE! It really has been end-to-end stuff in the last few minutes as Moscow are back on the attack now, with Valbuena powering the ball towards goal, but what his finish has in pace it lacks in accuracy, failing to force Andujar into action.
SUB! Napoli are the first to make a change as Jonathan de Guzman comes on in place of Mertens.
CHANCE! Dynamo are pushing desperately as they try to give themselves some hope, as Zhirkov shakes off Callejon before trying to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle, but Andujar gets down low to block it.
A high ball into the box drops to Valbuena, who heads it back to Kokorin, but he rushes his finish and ends up blasting it well high. It looks like Dynamo are just starting to panic as they look for an opening goal. Assuming they can keep a clean sheet, two goals is still enough to see them though, but time isn't on their side.
CHANCE! Aside from the two disallowed goals, that is probably the closest Moscow have come so far as a well-timed cross finds Kranyi just a few yards out, but Albiol marks him closely, and forces him to head it over.
SUB! Napoli make a second change with Marek Hamsik taking the place of Gabbiadini.
BOOKING! Williams Vainqueur is the first Dynamo player to be shown the yellow card as he charges into De Guzman. Should Moscow turn this around, the midfielder will be suspended from the first leg in the next round.
De Guzman's free kick as a result of the Vainqueur foul is diverted behind for a corner, and the midfielder whips it back in across the face of goal, but Gabulov comes off his line, decisively claiming it. It's a good decision from the keeper, as a Napoli goal now would surely end any hopes Moscow have of leveling the tie.
Higuain thinks that he is through for a shot, but Hubocan, who has done a good job keeping the striker quiet, catches up to him to hold him up. Higuain looks for Hamsik, who bursts into the box, but Hubocan turns the ball away for a throw.
CHANCE! Higuain manages to shake off Hubocan this time to give him space to line up a shot from the edge of the box, but he gets too much under the ball, and it ends up going high into the stand behind the goal.
PENALTY APPEAL! Maggio charges forward as Napoli continue to look the more likely, but he goes down under a challenge from Buttner. The defender looks to the referee for a spot kick, bu the official isn't interested, and their wasn't a lot of contact in it at all. Maggio might be a bit lucky, as if the referee decided that was a dive he'd have been off, having already been booked.
SUB! Napoli make their final change, with Higuain, who hasn't quite been firing tonight, makes way for Duvan Zapata.
Dynamo manage to get back down the other end following a decent clearance from Hubocan. Dzsudzsak tries to lob it forward for Kuranyi, but he can't bring it down in time to trouble Andujar.
CHANCE! Callejon almost breaks the deadlock as he charges into the box before trying to rifle it into the bottom corner, but Gabulov sees it all the way and makes a comfortable save.
SUB! Dynamo make their first change, and it's probably too little too late as Alexey Ionov replaces Alexander Buttner.
Dynamo are trying to throw everyting forward, but they seem to know it's a lost cause now as Ionov passes out wide to Kozlov, who cross back into the box is easily dealt with by Albiol.
The home side aren't sitting back as the final minutes tick by, with Zherkov sending in a dangerous cross as the game heads into three minutes of stoppage time, but Andujar punches it away with ease.
Dynamo are still trying to get the ball through to Kuranyi, which really has been their plan all night. Napoli are too aware of the threat of the striker though, and make sure he's crowded out.
The keeper is up as Dynamo force a corner with just seconds to spare. It's actually curled in for Gubolov, but he can't get the shot away.
FULL TIME: Dynamo Moscow 0-0 Napoli
NAPOLI WIN 3-1 ON AGGREGATE!
So a goalless second leg sends Napoli through to the quarter-finals in the Europa League at the expense of Dynamo Moscow. Both teams had chances on the night, but neither could break the deadlock in a lively second leg.
That's all from this match, but we've got live coverage from a few other Europa League fixtures this evening, which you can find links to here. That's it from me this evening. Goodbye!

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