Chelsea Beat Liverpool to Face Man Utd in Champions League Final

April 30, 2008 by CLDsport

Champions League Ball Chelsea have won a tense affair at Stamford Bridge 3-2 after extra time to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their history and Drogba grabs a brace following Benitez’s attack.

The first half belonged to the Blues who almost controlled the play with slick passing throughout. Makelele and Essien bossed the midfield and Lampard played fantastically - especially considering the circumstances. Liverpool still had their chances, the best falling to Torres - but he took the ball too wide with an extra touch that allowed Cech to advance and smother the ball.

The rain lashed down on the Stamford Bridge pitch, and the ball whizzed along the surface with every pass and shot. Chelsea were evidently shooting-on-sight to try and catch out keeper Reina on the slippery surface.

In the 18th minute Chelsea put together a superb passing move, stroking the ball around with pace. Lampard then sent a beautifully weighted pass towards Didier Drogba who’s first touch was perfect. The shot, however, was awful as he scuffed it past the far post.

While Chelsea continued to play the better football, Liverpool were desperately trying to slip Torres in between the Chelsea central defenders. Terry and Carvalho, however, were handling him well. Torres is always a danger though and Chelsea would have to keep a close eye on him.

The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute and it came from, as expected, Chelsea. Arbeloa failed to cut out Lampard’s pass and allows Soloman Kalou to skip clear with the ball. His fierce shot is beaten away by Pepe Reina, but the ball falls to Drogba who duly smashes it home. Chelsea lead 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.

The score remained the same as the game reached a well deserved half-time. Avram Grant was obviously the happier manager, not just due to the score, but indeed the Chelsea performance over the whole 45 minutes.

As second half got under way, Liverpool were notably more attacking. Manager Benitez’s half time talk must’ve done the trick as Liverpool almost looked like a different team. Chelsea could not get hold of the ball in midfield for love nor money.

In the 49th minute Liverpool created their first clear cut chance of the second half. Gerrard headed on a free kick across goal to Dirk Kuyt. Kuyt pokes the ball towards the far post but Cech makes a world class save to deny him - and Liverpool have to make do with a corner. Is there anyone better than Cech?

Fifteen minutes later and the game was back on. Benayoun beat Drogba and Kalou on the right before releasing Torres in the Chelsea box. The Spaniard takes one touch with his left foot before finishing expertly with his right. 1-1 (2-2 on aggregate) and the game is anybody’s.

The equaliser seemed to wake up the Blues again, and they started to retake control. After 75 minutes Florent Malouda slips in the box and claims a penalty and then Ashley Cole wants a free-kick after getting a push. They are both denied. Essien then goes on a rampage into the box but smashes the ball into the side netting. Liverpool struggled to clear their lines.

Eventually we reached full-time with the score still 2-2 on aggregate. Almost as predicted the game goes into extra time.

Seven minutes into extra time sees Michael Essien put the ball in the net. As he and the other Chelsea players celebrate, nobody notices the offside flag. Goal disallowed. Replays show that there were at least 4 Chelsea players in an offside position.

One minute later and Michael Ballack is tripped in the box by Sami Hypia and the ref points to the spot. Lampard immediately picks up the ball and his bravery is commendable. As Lampard steps up to take the kick, you can only imagine what is going through his mind. Lampard slots the ball past Reina with great poise before running to the corner flag and kissing his black armband.

Liverpool look like a beaten team, and struggle to make any in-roads into the Chelsea box. Their fate was sealed in the 105th minute when Drogba gets his second of the night. The player that Rafa Benitez attacked prior to the game effectively ends Liverpool’s Champions League campaign as he slots home substitute Anelka’s pull-back from the by-line. 3-1 to Chelsea, 4-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool are not bad at comebacks though, and they were not likely to give up now. After 117 minutes Ryan Babel 30 yard effort slips right through Petr Cech to make it 3-2. Cech really should have done better, and I’m sure will be disappointed.

The final 3 minutes were tense. One more from Liverpool would have put them through, however, despite all their efforts they didn’t come close. The final whistle goes and draws to an end a fantastic semi-final encounter.

Chelsea are deserved winners, although Liverpool gave them a fantastic run for their money.

So, mark your diaries now - May 21st at 7.45pm will be the time when Man Utd and Chelsea face each other for Europe’s biggest prize.

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