UEFA Champions League Semi Final 2nd Leg
Wednesday 30th April 2008 @ 7.45pm
Stamford Bridge, London
Chelsea win 4-3 on aggregate after extra time
The prospect of a sensational third European Cup final in four seasons ended on a miserable night down at Stamford Bridge. For the fourth occasion this season Liverpool walked away from a Chelsea fixture ruining wasteful finishing, and missed opportunities.
After the first leg, when the reds wasted a hatful of chances to put this tie beyond Chelsea culminating in John Arne Riise’s own goal the feeling was that the gods had turned.
In football, revenge is one of the key necessities of the sport’s enjoyment. Tonight, Chelsea got theirs for two European Cup semi-final defeats.
Chelsea started brightly. Didier Drogba clearly doesn’t like getting dirty, because in this muddy wet game he maintained his balance reasonably well and caused Liverpool’s back-line problems.
When Skrtel limped off with an injury to his knee in the 22nd minute Liverpool’s game plans were immediately affected. Hyypia arrived on, not knowing that he would have another 100 minutes of action ahead.
In the 33rd minute Chelsea made the break-through, a Kalou shot was saved by Reina, but Drogba slid home the first goal of the night. Drogba wondered how to celebrate for a moment, before opting to slide in front of Rafa Benitez.
The second half was a different story. All Liverpool. But our only rewards for 45 minutes of domination was our first goal in 841 minutes at the Bridge. Fernando Torres (you may have heard of him..) received a lovely pass crafted by Benayoun and fired past Cech.
The reds had got the goal that they desperately needed.
The minutes ticked away to the inevitable extra time.
Extra time commenced and Essien fired home from 22 yards. Celebrations were cut short as four Chelsea players were offside and the goal was correctly ruled out.
Seconds later and Chelsea were ahead again. Sami Hyypia clipped Michael Ballack just inside the box and it was Frank Lampard who converted the penalty. At this point Torres was replaced by Babel after tweaking a hamstring.
It got worse. Still in the first period of extra time and Drogba added another to sink Liverpool’s hearts.
The second period of extra time and Liverpool went on the front foot. Hyypia towards the end of the half became another reds striker. Substitute Ryan Babel, scoring yet again as our new ‘supersub’, smashed a shot home from 30 yards out with 3 minutes left on the clock.
Too little. Too late.
Liverpool should have come to Stamford Bridge with at least a two goal cushion but our wasted opportunities at Anfield cost us more than the wasted ones here at the Bridge. Roman Abramovich’s side get to their first final in his home country. Who’d have believed it?
It’s been another impressive campaign in Europe for Liverpool. But there will be no trip to Moscow. Liverpool fans will save over £50 million. Maybe we can all chip in and clone Torres?
Good luck to Chelsea in the final.
Teams:
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel (Hyypia 22), Riise, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun (Pennant 78), Gerrard, Torres (Babel 99).
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Finnan, Crouch, Lucas.
Booked: Alonso, Arbeloa.
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole (Anelka 91), Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Shevchenko 119), Kalou (Malouda 70), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Obi, Alex, Belletti.
Goals: Drogba 33, Lampard 98 pen, Drogba 105.
Att: 38,900
Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
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what a shame that our boys aint going to moscow.But never mind!!!!!!!…we will win the premiership next year!
chelsea scum…
The match really brought back memories of the Final in 2005 when we wwere down to only come back in extra time and win at penalties. It was a real roller coaster ride and Drogba really impressed by picking himself up from tackles after what Rafa had said about him. At least we’ve broken the duck at Stamford bridge. This will bring new believe into the lads when we go visiting there again next season.
All the pundits said that we would not be contenders for the EPL this season. How about the next? Let’s see how things turn out.. We have a real good team next season… YNWA
Once a red, always a red.
There were a lot of missed opportunities but we did good.Sure revenge is sweet for Chelsea and I wish them goodluck in moscow. I’m not really in for ManU.
I thing that is wonderful game, we are the champion even that we lost but the real champion we are….I am from Albania and I thing Liverpool is the best… west west west WE ARE THE BEST. Gerrard is one we are proud for you
i think that liverpool should of won i am not mad that they didn’t because chelsea are ok, but with a little bit more training i think that you will win next time
got to be proud of the effort put in last night even though the result didnt go are way,torres had one of those games where you dont see him then he creeps in with a vital goal and mascerano worked his socks off hopefully we can end the season with a couple of wins and look forward to the next campaign,i hope chelsea do it in moscow because i no alot more mancs than i do chelsea fans and someone needs to bring fergie back down.in rafa we trust
Dear fans
Dont feel so heartbroken by the result. There are many positives to take away. Firstly, we would have won if not for the own goal, aurelio’s, and skirtel’s injury I believe. Secondly, look at their expensive line-up compared to ours.Give rafa the same money and he’ll win all.3rdly, our team is jelling very well n will give a great go at the cups next season
with some new buysand guys from the reserve team like plessis.
My only grouch about this game was that I feel Benitez could have used Crouchy and Pennant to be target men to penetrate and feed Torres. anyway, fortune had to favour someone else sometime. Onward to the new season then n well done team YNWA
Richard, Singapore