For a while it looked like Manchester City might fall in their UEFA Champions League debut and at home at that. Edinson Cavani put Napoli in front of the Citizens at Eastlands and City's high-priced squad were in trouble, but then Aleksander Kolarov saved the day. He stepped to a free kick and blasted it home for the equalizer that saved City from being upset at home. Even so, it is Napoli who comes out of the match looking like the winners after managing a 1-1 draw away from home to open the competition, setting them up nicely in Group A, or more appropriately the Group of Death.
Manchester City Vs. Napoli, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Cavani, Kolarov Trade Goals In 1-1 Draw
No one was able to put the scoreboard to work in the first half, but certainly not for lack of trying. The match was played at a high pace and both teams were creating chances, just not finishing them. Luck did not favor the attackers as balls just rolled too far away from players, chances missed the frame by inches and last second tackles kept the ball out. The crossbar got involved too, first denying Ezequiel Lavezzi's blast and then denying a good shot from Yaya Toure.
The chances kept coming in the second half, more so for City than Napoli. The Citizens controlled possession while Napoli defended well and looked to counter-attack. With Cavani, Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik in the attack, Napoli counter-attacks are deadly and on several occasions the English side were almost burned.
Finally in the 69th minute, Cavani made City pay on a great counter-attack. Christian Maggio took the ball away from City in Napoli's own end and went racing forward. He sprinted the length of the field as City were caught out and doing their best to retreat. Maggio went right down the center and once he got within 25 yards of goal he slipped a pass through to Cavani. The pass was perfect, hitting Cavani right in stride and the Argentine made no mistake with his shot, ripping it through the legs of Joe Hart for the go-ahead goal.
Down a goal, City turned up the pressure and almost equalized right back, but the crossbar kept a Sergio Aguero shot out. No worry though because five minutes after Cavani put Napoli on top Kolarov stepped to a free kick from the right corner of the penalty box. His shot cleared the wall and then dipped under the post, leaving Morgan De Sanctis without a chance as the Citizens leveled.
Both sides created a couple more chances down the stretch, but the match was on its way to a 1-1 draw. Up a goal with 21 minutes left, Napoli might have been eying a win, but a draw is still a fine result for them and in truth, a disappointing one for City on the first Champions League match day for Group A.
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