Napoli v Swansea

Napoli 3

Insigne 16′ Higuaín 78′ Inler 90′

Swansea 1

De Guzmán 30′

FT 90 +4
HT 1-1
(agg 3 - 1)

By Rob Westall BBC Sport Wales

Swansea were agonisingly knocked out of the Europa League by Napoli as Gonzalo Higuain and Gokhan Inler scored two goals in the last 12 minutes.

After the first leg finished goalless, Rafael Benitez's side took the lead through Lorenzo Insigne's lob.

Jonathan de Guzman equalised with a powerful low shot which looked to have put the Swans through on away goals.

But Higuain's hooked shot and Inler's tap-in at the death sent Napoli through.

It was a bitter blow to Swansea who looked more threatening throughout the second leg and showed plenty of character after going behind.

The Swans enjoyed a lot of possession early on but mostly in their own half as Napoli pressed high up the pitch.

Yet it was a counter-attack which nearly gave Garry Monk's side the lead.

Pablo Hernandez's cross-field pass found Marvin Emnes who flicked the ball towards goal over the advancing Napoli keeper Pepa Reina, but it was cleared off the line by Raul Albiol.

Former Real Madrid striker Higuain should have put the Italians in front when he found himself with time and space eight yards out but the Argentine fired his effort over the bar.

Moments later a defensive mix-up saw Italy striker Insigne get in behind the Swansea back four, some of whom had tried to play the offside trap, and the 22-year-old lobbed the ball over Swans keeper Michel Vorm to give Napoli the lead.

The 900 or so Swans fans at the Stadio San Paolo may have feared the worst against the Italians, who are third in Serie A and only dropped into the Europa League after missing out on progression to the Champions League knockout stages on goal difference.

But the Welsh side, who also knew an equaliser would potentially be good enough to send them through, took the game to their hosts.

Swansea's loan striker Wilfried Bony was proving a handful and the impressive Hernandez thrived in his more central midfield role.

When a Napoli attack broke down, the Spaniard and De Guzman looked to link up and feed off Bony and it was not long before the approach brought the Swans level.

Bony's flicked pass into the path of De Guzman sent the Dutchman clear and his low shot beat Reina to bring the scores level.

Instead of sitting on their lead Swansea continued to attack and looked dangerous on the break.

Napoli were largely restricted to long-range efforts and the home fans became increasingly frustrated as the game wore on.

Swansea's Dwight Tiendalli had an appeal for a penalty turned down after falling in the box following a challenge by Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam.

Bony spurned a great chance to put the Swans in front when he could only head Hernandez's cross straight at Reina.

Swansea appeared to be cruising through to the last 16 until the predatory Higuain reacted quickest to hook a loose ball past Michel Vorm inside the box.

Monk's men pushed forward in search of a late equaliser but were caught on the break deep into injury time with Inler's finish sealing the win for Napoli.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Napoli

25 Reina
11 Maggio
31 Ghoulam
88 Inler Booked
04 Adriano Buss
33 Albiol
07 Callejón (Britos - 84' )
85 Behrami
09 Higuaín
19 Pandev (Hamsik - 59' )
24 Insigne (Mertens - 68' )

Substitutes

02 Réveillere
05 Britos
14 Mertens
15 Colombo
17 Hamsik
20 Dzemaili
91 Zapata

Swansea City

01 Vorm
19 Tiendalli
33 Davies
20 De Guzmán (Pozuelo - 82' )
04 Chico Booked
06 Williams
57 Emnes (Taylor - 70' Booked )
21 Cañas Booked
10 Bony
11 Hernández
15 Routledge (Dyer - 62' )

Substitutes

02 Amat
03 Taylor
12 Dyer
22 Rangel
24 Pozuelo
25 Tremmel
54 Ngog

Ref: Ovidiu Hategan

Match Stats

Possession 44 56

Shots

15 16

On target

4 12

Corners

2 5

Fouls

11 13

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Napoli 3, Swansea City 1.

90:00 +3:44 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Napoli 3, Swansea City 1.

90:00 +2:46 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Napoli 3, Swansea City 1. Gökhan Inler (Napoli) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marek Hamsik following a fast break.

90:00 +1:40

Attempt saved. Wilfried Bony (Swansea City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

90:00 +0:59

Attempt missed. Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.

90:00 +0:07 Booking

Booking Neil Taylor (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90:00 +0:04

Foul by Neil Taylor (Swansea City).

90:00 +0:04

Dries Mertens (Napoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.