Napoli's goalscoring problems
surfaced again when they were held to a 0-0 Champions League draw at
home by Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, their third Group B game in a row
without a win. Last year's Serie A runners-up won 17 corners and
had five shots on target compared to none for the Ukrainians but could
not find a way past Dynamo goalkeeper Artur Rudko. The result left
Napoli level at the top of the group on eight points with leaders
Benfica, their opponents in their final group game. A draw would guarantee them a top two place as it would give them a better head-to-head record against the Portuguese champions. Turkish
champions Besiktas, who drew 3-3 with Benfica, have seven points and
visit Kiev in their final game, where a win would send them through to
the knockout phase.
Dynamo, who have two points and will finish
bottom, played with a high back line, inviting Napoli to play
through-balls which frustratingly failed to find the target. Dries
Mertens managed to spring the offside trap early on but Rudko made a
last-ditch tackle to foil the Belgian, who was playing as a false number
nine in place of striker Arkadiusz Milik, out with a long-term knee
injury. Napoli then won a succession of corners which failed to
produced anything before Mertens was sent clear again and Rudko this
time rushed out of his area to make a risky sliding challenge. Lorenzo
Insigne should have put Napoli ahead when he was sent clear by a
Mertens through-ball but he tripped at the vital moment. Napoli,
who won their first two games in the group, continued to push forward in
the second half and Rudko made a flying save to turn Marek Hamsik's
drive around the post. Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini curled another
effort just wide and then had a shot saved by Rudko but Napoli's
challenge petered out.
Match Sheet:
0 - Napoli:
Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Zielinski (Allan, m. 78),
Hamsik, Diawara; Insigne (Gabbiadini, m. 66), Mertens (Giaccherini, m.
86), Callejón.
0 - Dynamo Kiev: Rudko; Morozyuk,
Khacheridi, Vida, Makarenko; Yarmolenko, Sydorcuk (Orihovski, m. 67),
Rybalka, Garmash, Tsygankov (Gonzalez, m. 60); Besedin (Moraes, m. 82).
Referee: Ovidiu Atekan (ROU).
Booked: Sydorcuk (m. 19) and Koulibaly (m. 75).
Attendance: 35.000 spectators at Stadio San Paolo (Napoli).
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