In the end it will be remembered as one of the great Stamford Bridge nights. The drama was almost unrelenting and it culminated with Branislav Ivanovic turning in the goal that keeps Chelsea in the Champions League and serves as a reminder of all the great qualities they have kept in storage for too long this season.

For a right-back to find himself in the opposition penalty area 105 minutes into a tie of this magnitude was maybe the best way to sum up a wild and eccentric night in which Napoli played their full part and had enough of the ball in dangerous areas to feel aggrieved they will not be involved in Friday's quarter-final draw.

Yet ultimately this was the night when Chelsea remembered what it is to be a team of serious ambition and from here they should approach the rest of the season with a new zest. At the very least they have restored some pride and dignity to what has been a difficult and sometimes turbulent season.

They gave everything and at the final whistle their interim manager, RobertoDi Matteo, sprinted on the pitch to embrace the victorious players. Some looked too shattered to respond.

Half an hour later Roman Abramovich walked across the playing surface, high-fiving his staff and blowing out his cheeks in joyous disbelief. These were scenes that barely seemed imaginable after the first leg at Stadio San Paolo three weeks ago when they were fortunate to get away with a 3-1 defeat and André Villas-Boas was left one defeat from the sack.

To put it into context, this is only the fourth time in 45 attempts that a team has overcome a first-leg deficit of two or more goals in the Champions League. That, however, tells only part of the story of a night in which Chelsea went 2-0 ahead, courtesy of headed goals from Didier Drogba and John Terry, only for Napoli to respond via a peach of shot from Gokhan Inler.

Twice the game was tipped in Napoli's favour and twice Chelsea gritted their teeth to get back on top of the fourth-placed side in Serie A.

They had been out-passed early on and it was difficult not to sympathise with a Napoli side that played with great adventure and ambition throughout the evening. Walter Mazzarri's players were quick to the ball, strong in the challenge and, when they broke forward, they did so with pace and numbers.

They played with togetherness and purpose and have a striker, Edinson Cavani, who could trouble the most accomplished defences. For a team of this ability to play so well and lose 4-1 shows what a monumental effort it was from Chelsea.

The Italians were so superior for the opening half an hour that, when Drogba darted into the six-yard area to head in Ramires's cross, it was almost a shock. Drogba's anticipation brought new hope and by half-time it was clear that Chelsea could open the visiting defence.

A pattern was subtly emerging. If Napoli had a flaw, it was when crosses were delivered into their penalty area and two minutes into the second half Chelsea took advantage again. Frank Lampard's corner was a couple of inches too high for Drogba but Terry was coming in from behind and his header was expertly taken.

At 2-0 Chelsea were ahead on aggregate, via their away goal, for the first time in the tie, but their joy was short-lived. Eight minutes later Andrea Dossena crossed from the left and Terry's clearing header landed on Inler's chest 20 yards out. Impeccable control was followed by a right-foot volley that went through Lampard's legs and speared into the bottom right-hand corner of Petr Cech's goal.

Yet the night was so devoted to attacking football, from both sides, there was only a passing sense that the fun would stop there. Lampard's 75th-minute penalty, after Ivanovic's header had been blocked by Andrea Dossena's outstretched arm, took the game into extra-time and from that point Chelsea looked stronger and fitter.

Drogba was a constant menace and Fernando Torres looked lively after replacing Daniel Sturridge, even if he lost his nerve with his one good chance and has now gone past 24 hours of match time without scoring.

Finally Ramires and Drogba worked the ball into Ivanovic's path and he took his chance as if it were perfectly normal for him to be playing as an extra centre-forward. That one elegant swish of his right boot meant so much for Chelsea.