Wed, 30th Apr 2008
Chelsea will meet Manchester United in our first Champions League final appearance, after defeating Liverpool after extra time at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres sent the game into extra time, when a Frank Lampard penalty and a second Drogba strike were enough to book our place in Moscow, despite Ryan Babel's late consolation.
Beginning the game 90 minutes and a clean sheet away from Moscow, confidence was high in the Chelsea camp, and the return of Lampard would only have raised spirits further.
The midfielder was missing for Saturday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Manchester United after the death of his mother Pat.
Avram Grant made two changes from the first leg. With Michael Essien no longer suspended, the Ghanaian was picked to return at right-back, while Salomon Kalou was preferred to Florent Malouda on the left wing.
Neither side began the game with much fluidity, but it was the Blues who started the brighter. Drogba flashed a long-range effort towards goal, and on a rain-sodden surface, Pepe Reina played safe and turned it around the post.
At the other end Petr Cech had to be at his best form to deny Fernando Torres when the Spaniard broke clear, thwarting the Liverpool forward at his near post.
Reina had clearly noted Cech's willingness to venture from his line, and so came racing out of his own goal to deny Drogba an opportunity after 13 minutes.
So far so good for the Blues, and five minutes later it should have been even better when Lampard played a smart reverse pass into Drogba's path. With just Reina to beat, and time to pick his spot, the Ivorian dragged his left-footed shot wide of the far post.
Three minutes later Essien tested Reina's concentration with a 30-yard drive that the goalkeeper did well to hold. Liverpool were doing well to contain Chelsea.
The visitors were then dealt a blow as centre-half Martin Skrtel was forced to hobble off, Sami Hyypia his replacement.
We continued to attack, with Michael Ballack the next to test Reina. This time the keeper opted to punch, and did so well, but it wouldn't be long before he was beaten.
Lampard played a perfectly weighted pass through for Salomon Kalou, whose shot was parried, but only into the path of Drogba, who smashed home to give the Blues a lead for the first time in the tie.
The strike had personal meaning too, as it was Drogba's 17th European Chelsea goal, sending him past Peter Osgood's previous record of 16.
The through ball from Lampard deserved special praise, and was symptomatic of the midfielder's first-half performance, which had seen him sit deeper as Ballack advanced.
The noise levels rose a few decibels inside an already buzzing Stamford Bridge, as the Chelsea faithful sensed a first Champions League final appearance.
Five minutes before the break Xabi Alonso was booked for a cynical challenge on Kalou as the winger broke clear.
Drogba and Ballack lined up the free-kick, just like on Saturday, but tonight there were no arguments as the German strode up, but bent his shot inches wide of the post.
That was the last action of the first half as Chelsea went in on top.
Liverpool weren't throwing in the towel though, and shortly after the break Cech had to make a superb stop from Dirk Kuyt to maintain the goal advantage. From the resultant corner, Kuyt couldn't quite find a sight of goal and Drogba was able to clear.
Next, a flowing Chelsea move involving Lampard, Ballack, Drogba and Cole ended in Lampard half-volleying a shot into Reina's arms. Cole himself shot low at the keeper 10 minutes later.
By now Liverpool were on top, and the equaliser came on 64 minutes, when Yossi Benayoun, until then ineffectual, cut inside and released Torres. Having missed earlier in the night, the forward wasn't going to again, and slotted low into the corner past Cech.
It was the first Reds goal scored at Anfield under manager Rafael Benitez, who had just switched the Israeli on to the right flank.
It put Liverpool in the ascendancy, and Terry had to stub out another Torres opportunity shortly after. In response, Grant introduced sub Malouda for Kalou.
It was from the other side that Chelsea nearly regained the lead though, as Essien came foraging forward to support the attack. He sidestepped two challenges, but off balance could only find the side netting with his shot.
The game looked destined for extra time, and just two minutes of injury time were afforded the sides to find a winner. As had looked likely for some time, none was found and so there would be another 30 minutes.
Nicolas Anelka was introduced at the expense of Joe Cole as the game resumed, with Chelsea attacking the Matthew Harding Stand.
The first opportunity fell to Liverpool, Riise had time and opted to cross to the far post, but the Blues scrambled the ball away. Shortly after, Hyypia headed a Gerrard corner narrowly wide.
In attack, Drogba was denied a near certain goal by a superb last-ditch tackle from Carragher, but from the resultant corner, Chelsea had the ball in the net, only to see the referee rule Essien's thunderbolt out for offside.
Relays showed that there were more than one blue shirt in an offside position, and Drogba was stood directly in front of Reina, thus blocking the goalkeeper's view.
Just as the debates began, we were awarded a penalty when Ballack went down under a clumsy looking challenge from Hyypia. There were few arguments.
Lampard stepped up, and confidently smashed the ball low into Reina's bottom-left corner.
The celebrations were long and emotional, as the midfielder kissed the black arm band he was sporting in memory of his mother.
Liverpool still weren't done though, and had their own penalty claims turned away when substitute Babel, on for Torres, was challenged by Essien.
A corner was given, and from Gerrard's cross, Alonso headed on target, but straight at Cech.
One thing was now for certain, there would be no penalties, but another Liverpool goal would send the visitors to Moscow on away goals.
On the stroke of half-time in extra time, this became somewhat academic as Drogba stroked home his second of the night and Chelsea's third. Anelka had done well to win the ball in the corner and pull back, allowing the forward the simplest of finishes.
Now Chelsea had one foot in the final, and Liverpool needed two goals to deny us a first final appearance in this competition.
With four minutes remaining Babel gave the visitors hope, striking a 35-yard effort that caught Cech off guard. Now it was a backs against the wall job to protect the most precious of leads.
Andriy Shevchenko replaced Lampard with moments remaining, and the midfielder departed the action to a standing ovation.
One minute of added time was indicated, and the Ukrainian headed to the corner flag to run the clock down. He just did enough, and that was it, Chelsea were into the final.
The celebrations went on after the final whistle, with the coaching staff and players not involved joining the team on the pitch. Lampard too returned, and struggling to hold back tears, embraced his manager and applauded the fans.
It was a night to remember for everybody linked with Chelsea, and the image of Didier Drogba and Steve Clarke bouncing along to Madness hit One Step Beyond will live long in the memory. Roll on Moscow…
By Andy Jones
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Anelka 90), Drogba, Kalou (Malouda 69).
Goals Drogba 33, 105 Lampard (pen) 97
Booked
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel (Hyypia 21), Riise; Mascherano, Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun (Pennant 77); Torres (Babel 97).
Goals Torres 64, Babel 116
Booked Alonso 40
You can watch tonight's match in its entirety again on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday, or log on to Chelsea Plus for the highlights package.
Wed, Apr 30, 2008
Champions League, Featured, Matches