Chelsea loses, Madrid draws in Champions League

LONDON — Chelsea's troubles worsened after sloppy defending led to a 3-1 loss at Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, and nine-time winner Real Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow.

Chelsea, which has slipped to fifth in the Premier League, threw away a 1-0 lead in the first leg in Italy when Ezequiel Lavezzi scored twice and Edinson Cavani added another goal.

It was also a disappointing night for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose Madrid side failed to take its dominant domestic form into Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead with his 36th goal of the season, but CSKA midfielder Pontus Wernbloom scrambled the ball into the net with the last kick of the match in the third minute of stoppage time to equalize for the Russian club.

While Madrid holds a 10-point lead over Barcelona to be on course to win the Spanish league, Chelsea has now failed to win for a fifth straight game in all competitions.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas gambled by not starting with Frank Lampard or Michael Essien, while captain John Terry was ruled out just before the match as he requires knee surgery.

Luck, however, was initially in Chelsea's favor with Juan Mata's opening goal somewhat of a gift from Napoli.

After being picked out by Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge's resulting cross was inexplicably mis-kicked by Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro back toward his own goal. The ball fell perfectly for Mata to slot into the net past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis in the 27th minute.

Napoli leveled 11 minutes later when Lavezzi collected the ball on the edge of the area, eluded Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles, before curling it into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Petr Cech's outstretched hand.

Cavani, whose goals helped to eliminate Premier League leader Manchester City in the group stage, scored his fifth goal in seven Champions League appearances this season right on halftime when he turned Gokhan Inler's cross into the net from close range.

"We had a chance to go 2-0 up and a couple of defensive mistakes that against Napoli, with their attacking strength, will get punished," Villas-Boas said.

After Chelsea defender David Luiz gave the ball away sloppily, Cavani turned provider, squaring it past an outrushing Cech for Lavezzi to slot into an empty net in the 65th.