The end has come to the dream of Napoli
getting to the semi-finals of the Champios league after losing 2-1 to AC Milan on Tuesday.
Victor Osimhen scored late in the added time, but it was not enough. Had team mate, Kvaratskhelia’s 82nd-minute penalty could have saved the day and give further hopes, but it was lost.
For Milan, Olivier Giroud’s first-half strike proved the difference.
Ismael Bennacer’s goal last week at San Siro snatched a 1-0 quarter-final lead and Milan deservedly doubled their aggregate advantage in the first half on Tuesday in Naples.
Giroud had an earlier penalty saved by Alex Meret but made amends soon after with his 43rd-minute opener after Rafael Leao’s incredible run to create the goal.
Milan held on to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2007.
Matteo Politano twice whistled early efforts narrowly wide but the Rossoneri should have struck first when a clumsy Mario Rui lunge on Leao offered Milan a glorious chance from 12 yards.Yet Meret guessed the right way to deny Giroud’s spot-kick towards the bottom-right corner, before again thwarting the France veteran after another tame effort from a gilt-edged opportunity.
The Milan striker made no mistake next time round as Leao showed a remarkable turn of pace down the left before rolling across to Giroud for the simplest of tap-ins.
Victor Osimhen saw a strike ruled out for handball on the stroke of half-time and Kvaratskhelia blasted just over after the interval as Napoli searched for a response.
A Fikayo Tomori handball afforded Napoli a late opportunity to fight back into the clash, though Maignan dived low to his right to thwart Kvaratskhelia.
That penalty miss proved Osimhen’s late header from Giacomo Raspadori’s cross in vain as Milan battled through to the last four.
