Ten-man Chelsea hold off Barca to reach final
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E-mail Xinhua, April 25, 2012
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Frank Lampard of Chelsea celebrates as Fernando Torres is congratulated by team-mates after scoring during their UEFA Champiosn League semi-final second leg against Barcelona. |
Chelsea qualified for the final of this season's Champions League on Tuesday following a heroic rear guard action away to FC Barcelona.
Fernando Torres scored an injury time goal for Chelsea to make it 2-2 on the night and to take Chelsea through 3-2 on aggregate, but the English side owed their qualification to a heroic defensive display with a player less after their captain, John Terry was sent off before halftime.
Barcelona controlled the game, but lacked the pace to score a vital third goal and were punished for defensive lapses.
Chelsea will now face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the final.
In an intense first 45 minutes, Chelsea sounded a warning with a quick break in the opening minute, but Barca replied quickly and Lionel Messi hit the side netting before Chelsea defender Gary Cahill had to leave the game after suffering a muscle injury to be replaced by Jose Bosingwa.
Barca were in control, but in a rare Chelsea break, Gerard Pique was left groggy after a collision with his keeper Victor Valdes after 15 minutes, moments before Chelsea keeper Petr Cech did well to deny Messi, before Cesc volleyed into the side netting and Javier Mascherano fired just over from outside of the penalty area.
It soon became clear that Pique would have to leave the pitch and he was replaced by Alves, who gave Barca extra speed, but meant they lost height in defense.
The game then saw 10 frantic minutes. First of all Busquets drew Barca level in the tie with a left foot finish after 34 minutes following fine work from Cuenca and two minutes later Chelsea captain Terry was shown a direct red card for an aggression on Alexis.
TV replays showed Terry kneed Alexis on the back of his leg in an off the ball incident and he was correctly sent to the dressing room.
Andres Iniesta then put Chelsea ahead after 44 minutes taking a pass from Messi, but just as the Barca fans were celebrating Ramires scored for Chelsea as he beat the offside trap and lobbed Valdes.
The goal meant that the sides went into the dressing room with Chelsea qualified by virtue of the away goals rule.
Messi had a fine chance to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot three minutes into the second half after Didier Drogba had brought down Cesc, but the top scorer in the competition smashed his spot kick against the crossbar.
Soon afterwards Alexis headed a cross wide, while Drogba tried his luck from inside his own half, shortly before Salomon Kalou repleaced a tired Juan Mata for Chelsea.
Barca kept up the pressure, but Cech produced a good block to deny Cuenca just after the hour and the tension was palpable in the Camp Nou as Barca pressured but failed to break down a massed Chelsea defense.
The visitors were defending in their own penalty area, but were comfortable as Barca moved the ball from side to side, but without being able to trouble Cech until the last 10 minutes.
Alexis had the ball in the net with 10 minutes left, but the goal was ruled out for a prior offside from Alves and a minute later Messi hit the post.
Mascherano forced another good save from Cech in the last minute, but with Barca camped around the Chelsea area, Torres, who had replaced Drogba collected a through ball, ran the length of the pitch and scored his side's second goal. It was cruel on Barca, while Chelsea fans will see the result as revenge for their defeat to the Catalans in the semifinal of the competition three years ago.
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Lionel Messi of Barcelona dejected after Chelsea knocked out Barcelona to reach the final of the Champions League. |
