Avram Grant did what “the special one” could not which is to send Chelsea into the Champions league Finals. To add sugar to this sweet victory, it was over a team that had sent them packing home in their 2 previous semi-finals, the Rafa Benitez led-Liverpool.
With the first leg ended up 1-1 at Anfield, Liverpool needs to score at the bridge to stand any chance of progressing. Many eyes were on the Liverpool’s ablility to score at Chelsea fortess and they have not done so under Benitez in Eupore. However they do one trump card in their sleeves as compared to previous seasons.
As most have predicted, the blues took the initiative in this match as they peppered long range shot onto Pepe Reina’s goal in the opening moments but Reina was never really troubled by those shots. However as one shot from Kalou fired towards Reina, the liverpool kepper could only palm it onto Didier Drogba who made no mistakewith a ferocious shot at the near post of Reina. Alot of people agrued that Kalou was offside when he received the pass from Lampard and from tv replays, it looked really close. My first reaction wasthat Kalou was offside but unfortunately luck was not on liverpool side. The decisioncould gone either way but the refree was not to be blamed.
One of the highlight of the game was that after scoring Chelsea’s opening goal, Drogba actually ”dived” in front of the Liverpool bench to celebrate purposely on front of Benitez who has accused Drogba of “going down to easily”. What a way to celebrate arh!
On the other side, just before half time, Stevie Gerrard ”knocked out” Grant while the Liverpool captain try to retrieve the ball from the Israelicoach. I couldn’t help but to laugh out loud when i saw the replay of the match just now.
Trailing by one goal at half-time, i was expecting Liverpool to go for broke but they didn’t. However a moment of magic from Yossi Benayoun and clinical finishing of Fernando Torres(their trump card) put the match to square one. Advantage liverpool i think because one more goal fromt the reds and they will be going to moscow. However this was not to be and the match went into extra time.
Surely it will go into penalty again, some said. Yes this is what i though of also but the different in class showed in the 30 minutes of extra time. Essien had a goal correctly and fortunately ruled out. Chelsea players were already celebrating the goal but they responded extremely well to that decision and they had a penalty moments after. Lampard, as we all know what happened to his mum, confidently stroked home to the delights of the home fans and his teammates. As Lampard dedicates the goall to his mum, emotions swarm over me. However the sucker-punch came from Drogba as he scored his second goal of the match which effectively killed off the match. Ryan Babel scored a late goal to set up an intense finale but the miracle never come. So the Chelsea players celebrated at the bridge at the expense of the Reds who have more than a match for the Blues. History was created and alot of people are laughing at the fact that Avram Grant did it without his UEFA Pro Coaching license yet.
(Photos From Soccernet.com)
Post Match Analysis
Why Chelsea won: Chelsea won because they have a better squad than Liverpool. When Liverpool was trailing, their bench was not strong enough to challenge Chelsea. I was hoping for Crouch to start the game as Liverpool needs to score but he did not even play. When Skertel was injured, Hypia came on and he is partly responsible for Liverpool defeat. Therefore, Chelsea players won for their team but Liverpool are more hardworking and tactical. Liverpool needs to recruit better in the summer. If not for Rafa Benitez, they would not have been to the Champions League Finals twice under him.
Man of the Match: Drogba, no doubts. I think he’s a better big game player than Ronaldo but lets see what happen in Moscow.
people comments pls.
