West Ham 0 Napoli 1

West Ham started with what looks like Zola's first eleven of Green, Ilunga, Upson, Tomkins, Faubert, Collison, Parker, Noble, Dyer, Jimenez and Cole.

Napoli started the brighter and looked threatening in the opening minutes. After about 8 minutes West Ham woke up and began to have the better of the possession and territory.

In the 26th minute Jimenez broke into the box, Collison took it off him but the ball got stuck under his feet and his scuffed shot flew tamely wide of the goal from 8 yards. In the 34th minute West Ham's best chance fell to Parker, who was sent clear into the penalty box by Cole. Parker, however, skied his shot high and wide from ten yards out from the right hand side of the area.

Napoli were forced into playing on the break for most of the half but, despite not having as much possession, probably had more attempts on goal. Unlike West Ham Napoli didn't seem afraid to shoot from outside the box, although none of their shots ever looked like troubling Green.

Napoli's best chance actually came from a header. Hamsik got to a corner before the West Ham defence but headed wide from only four yards. His missed header was the last action of an entertaining half.


Collins came on for Tomkins at the start of the second half. Three minutes after the restart Dyer played a square ball to Noble who shot just over from 20 yards. In the 54th minute Cole played Parker free in the box for the second time in the game. Parker managed to round the keeper but played the ball a little wide and then fell over as he tried to screw the ball back into the box.

West Ham rang the changes throughout the second half, which disrupted the side a little and we didn't seem quite as in control of the game as in the first half. In the 78th minute Maggio launched a long hopeful ball into the box and Quagliarella beat Collins to the ball and his flicked header looped over Green from 10 yards.

In the 84th minute Blasi was given a second yellow card for a foul on Ilunga. West ham pressed their advantage for the remaining minutes and came close to an equaliser from a Stanislas shot from the edge of the area. His shot just missed the outside of the post to the left of the goal.

In the end West ham were beaten by a very well taken goal. They won't be too unhappy as they looked the better side for much of the game. However they will be slightly worried that they only managed one shot on target in the game.