Manchester City cha mtoto kwa Napoli

Mshambulijia Edinson Cavani akishangilia moja ya mabao mawili aliyofunga jana wakati Man City walipopambana na Napoli ya Italia.

IT was a case of see Naples and cry as Manchester City were left clinging on to their Champions League dream.

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani netted in each half to make it advantage Napoli in Group A.

Now City must beat Bayern Munich and pray for a favour from whipping boys Villarreal, who host the Serie A side in two weeks' time.

But it was a disappointing return to their homeland for Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli — despite the striker's 33rd-minute goal.

So the Premier League leaders face the likelihood of dropping into the Europa League in February.

And that will not please Mancini, who knew his side could have wiped away any doubt by winning against the talented Italians.

City knew victory here would guarantee a place in the knockout stages, in their first-ever Champions League campaign.

The Premier League leaders have grown into this competition after making an unconvincing start against these opponents back in September, when they drew 1-1 at home.

They followed that up with the infamous night away to Bayern but back-to-back wins over Villarreal got them right back on track.

Mancini vowed to go for it but admitted it would be no easy task against an Italian team who have not
lost a European tie in their San Paolo Stadium for 17 YEARS.

Perhaps that is no surprise given the ear-splitting racket produced by the home fans who welcomed their team with a sea of colour and flares.

The visitors could have quietened them down straight away, with Yaya Toure and Balotelli both just off target with long-range efforts.

At the other end, Marek Hamsik should have done better as he planted his header straight at keeper Joe Hart from Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross.

Argentinian Lavezzi has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Carlos Tevez either in January or the summer.

And he showed another glimpse of his talent as he swapped passes with Cavani before firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Another speculative effort, this time from Gokhan Inler, was pushed over the bar by England stopper Hart. But from the resulting corner, taken by Lavezzi on 17 minutes, Cavani nipped in to head home at the front post via the boot of Aleksandar Kolarov.

The Uruguayan also scored the opener at the Etihad two months ago, ironically with Kolarov getting the equaliser.

But City got a foothold back in the game as defender Salvatore Aronica gave the ball away in his own box on 33 minutes.

David Silva's low shot from the angle was only parried by keeper Morgan De Sanctis and there was Balotelli to tap in the rebound and score the easiest goal of his encouraging season.

Last time Super Mario was round these parts, he was in court over his brush with the Neopolitan Mafia this summer.

This time he was only a criminal in the eyes of the Napoli fans as he scored a ninth goal in his last 10 City games.

But five minutes after the restart, they were behind again as Cavani found ex-Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena down the left.

He pulled the ball back for the Uruguayan, whose shot had just enough on it to beat Hart.

All the good work City had done in pegging back Walter Mazzari's men had been undone and the visitors needed to battle back again.

Influential Napoli midfielder Inler was forced off on the hour through injury but there was little sign of movement on the City bench.

The Italians were happy to sit on their lead and get their whole team behind the ball — but still looked a threat on the break.

The impressive Lavezzi weaved through the City defence and found himself with a sight of goal but Hart came to City's rescue.

Mancini finally made a change, with Samir Nasri thrown on in place of defensive midfielder Nigel De Jong as he knew they had to go for broke.