Result: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 4-3 aet)
That's it. Chelsea have qualified for the first Champions League final. What a game.
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Extra-time, 30min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 4-3)
That might have been Liverpool's final chance. For once not giving the ball away, Pennant finds Hyypia, who turns it to Gerrard on the right. He wastes his cross and gives Chelsea a goal kick.
Extra-time, 28min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 4-3)
Grant has replaced Lampard with Shevchenko. The England midfielder has had a superb game, regardless of his personal circumstances. Liverpool have put Hyypia up front. Surely they can't come back from this.
Extra-time, 27min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2 (Agg: 4-3)
Goal! Babel scores from 30 yards, drifting the ball through the air past Cech. What a player. What a substitution.
Extra-time, 24min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 4-2)
Babel is playing as a lone striker and looks badly out of position. Even if Torres was injured, Benitez should surely have replaced him with Crouch. His other substitute, Pennant, is losing possession every time he gets it, too. Little wonder he's just up-ended Cole in frustration. Free kick to Chelsea.
Extra-time, 20min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 4-2)
Chelsea skips past Pennant and crosses to Drogba, who lets the ball run through his legs to Malouda. Mascherano desperately brings the winger down to concede a free kick 25 yards out. Drogba hits it straight at the wall. Only Chelsea look like scoring.
Extra-time, 17min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 4-2)
Penalty? No but, as Hyypia went down under Drogba's challenge, the referee put the whistle to his mouth before apparently changing his mind. Hyypia looked for the foul but there was definitely contact.
Extra-time, 16min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 4-2)
The sides change ends and Liverpool immediately start to load players forward, albeit with the singing of an ecstatic Stamford Bridge crowd ringing in the air. Essien concedes a needless corner with a terrible header, drawing a furious response from Cech.
Extra-time, 14min: Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 4-2)
Another goal! Deep in Chelsea's half, Essien combines with Anelka - played onside by Carragher - who crosses to Drogba. Showing incredible stamina, he races on to the pass and finishes clinically. Victory is surely Chelsea's.
Extra-time, 11min: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 3-2)
Huh? Benitez has replaced Torres with Babel even though the Spaniard showed no signs of being injured. It's becoming more than Gray can handle: "Wow, that's all I keep saying. Wow."
Extra-time, 8min: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 3-2)
Goal! With The Times sub-editors hardly back in their seats, and Gray struggling with his blood pressure, Hyypia catches Ballack on the ankle and the referee awards a penalty. Who takes it? Lampard, coolly, brilliantly, to put Chelsea on the brink of the final. He looks close to tears as he directs a kiss to the stands. Incredible.
Extra-time, 4min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
An incredible passage of play. Liverpool make two last-ditch tackles to stay in the match, the ball bounces out to Essien on the edge of the penalty. He strikes it past Reina. Andy Gray roars - really impressed now - The Times sports desk rises to its feet ... and the fourth official flags for offside. "They're never given offside," says Gray, incredulous.
Extra-time, 2min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
What an opportunity. Chelsea leave Riise unmarked on the far side of the penalty area. Rather than shoot, he drifts a cross to two Liverpool players at the far post who were so close they got in each other's way. A moment later, Hyypia sends a close-range header wide. Remember, most of this Liverpool side had their feet up while Chelsea were toiling against Manchester United at the weekend.
90min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Chelsea have replaced Joe Cole with Anelka. Chelsea are preparing to kick off.
Full time: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Carragher shapes to send in one final cross but the referee blows up with the defender's leg cocked. Liverpool have fought their way back into the match and just about deserved it. Stay with us for extra time. Here's how Torres equalised:
90min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Ashley Cole aims it at Terry but Liverpool clear easily. As our computer system refreshes, the fourth official signals two minutes of stoppage time. Another half hour, though, surely beckons.
89min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Only seconds of normal time remain. Chelsea have a free kick on the halfway line.
86min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
The referee makes probably his first odd decision of the match, penalising Torres for being offside several seconds after the ball was kicked. Liverpool, though, quickly regain possession and kick for touch so that Gerrard can get treatment for cramp. He's back on his feet.
82min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
The play has slowed marginally, the players doubtless aware that one mistake could cost them the match with only seven minutes remaining. Which, of course, is plenty of time for Riise to affect on the result. Liverpool have possession at the back and are taking their time about going forward.
78min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Torres aims a little kick at Terry. The Chelsea captain gets up angrily and gives the Spaniard a little shove. The referee askes them to calm down, but that doesn't stop Kuyt racing into Cech in an effort to reach a Pennant cross. The Dutchman up-ends the keeper but, impressively. he choses not complain.
74min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Chelsea looked flat a moment ago but now they're dominating. Joe Cole releases Essien with a clever back heel. The right back sprints down the wing beating, one, two and three defenders to give him sight of goal and of team-mates in the six-yard box. He choses to shot - probably wrongly - and hits the side netting. Liverpool are bringing off Benayoung, replacing him with Pennant, presumably to face his mate Ashley Cole on the right wing.
71min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Drogba entertainingly nullifies a challenge from Benayoun with a (legal) shoulder barge that sends the willowy Israeli stumbling backwards. For those wondering what happened to pictures of the Grant stumble, we're sorry but nothing usable has dropped on the wires. Not our fault, you understand.
68min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Chelsea retain promising possession but Essien ruins it by firing low and hopefully from long range. Reina collects easily, prompting Grant to give Malouda the nod to replace Kalou.
64min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 2-2)
Goal! My word. Just when Liverpool seemed unable to create anything meaningful, Benayoun brilliantly fulfills Bentiez's faith in him. Running in from the right, he skips past Drogba, then Makelele and slips a pass to Torres, who scores from just inside the area. The tie is level. Penalties, anyone? Course you do.
60min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Chelsea are starting to sit deep, surely prematurely with half an hour to play. Mascherano sends a cross-field pass to Arbeloa on the left wing who is tackled trying to evade Ashley Cole - the left back is having an excellent game. Still, Liverpool press though, with Gerrard whipping in a cross that Terry clears. Babel and Crouch are warming up on the touchline.
57min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Chelsea pull off the rare feat of managing four successive passes, prompting the fans to start cheering their players' every touch. Lampard soon ends that by striking a hospitable ball to Drogba, who can only head it backwards. Chelsea quickly regain possession only to lose it before this sentence is out. Sorry, the ball is changing hands quicker than it's possible to report.
52min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Liverpool work the ball in a neat triangle of players on the halfway line only for Gerrard to inexplicably cede possession with a hopeful cross-field ball. Chelsea work it forward much more incisively, feeding Drogab on the left who drifts a cross to Lampard. His first-time volley is hit straight at Reina. "This match is like putting a kettle of water on," says Gray, getting the most from his metaphor. "And it's just about coming to a boil."
48min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
What a save! Mascherano drifts an excellent pass to Gerrard on the left wing, he heads back to Kuyt, who hits the ball first time only for Cech to stop it instinctively with his foot. Chelsea hack clear the resulting corner. The conditions are making it extremely difficult, particularly for the defenders. Benitez has to be thinking about bringing on Crouch.
46min Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Drogba loses possession. Two Liverpool players have just slipped on the surface. There could be more comedy ahead.
45min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
The rain is bucketing down. Liverpool are about to kick off.
Comedy interlude: Gerrard v Grant
Sky have just shown an entertaining little encounter between Gerrard and Grant that took place on the touchline. Grant retrieved the ball, Gerrard went to grab it to take a throw-in but had to reach as the Chelsea manager pulled it away from him. In the confusion, Gerrard caught Grant with his shoulder, sending him tumbling back into his seat. To his credit, he didn't complain. To his discredit, he didn't laugh, either. Expect to see it replayed in the papers tomorrow. We, though, promise to have pictures much earlier than that. Stay logged.
Half-time: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
The referee blows up. Chelsea lead, deservedly, thanks to Drogba's excellent strike. Liverpool need a goal to stay in the competition, two to win. Doubtless irked by Benitez's criticism of his diving, Drogba celebrated by diving right in front of the Liverpool manager. Here's how:
41min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Close! Twenty-five yards out, Ballack bends a free kick over the wall, beating Reina, but the ball hits the stanchion. Alonso concedes the free kick, earning a yellow card for his foul on Kalou. European football might suit Liverpool, but this is British football, relentlessly fast and brutal. Which suits Chelsea more than practically anyone.
36min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Not that it changes the situation that signficantly for Liverpool. As before, one goal and they are back in the competition. It's just that they do not look like scoring that goal. Gray, incidentally, reckons Kalou was offside when Lampard struck his pass though I'm not so sure. Play has stopped while Gerrard receives treatment on his ankle ... he's back up again now. The perpretator of the injury? Yup, Drogba.
32min: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 2-1)
Goal! A beauty from Drogba. Lampard cuts open the Liverpool defence with an excellent pass to Kalou, who cuts inside his man and draws a good save from Reina. In a flash, Drogba pounces on the rebound and curls the ball in at an acute angle. Then, to rub it in, he sprinted all the way down the touchline and slid on to his knees in celebration directly in front of the Liverpool bench. Cocky git.
28min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Which does not bode well for Rafa's men. You will not need reminding - least I hope not, given that I am mentioning it only now - but if the scores remain thus, Chelsea win. Here's a shot of Torres's miss. More pics to follow.
25min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Ballack shoots with a 25-yarder that drifts through the air but goes straight to Reina. The keeper fists the ball unconvincingly back into play. Overall Liverpool are starting to exact a little control on the match, passing it across the defence and midfield, albeit with no penetration.
24min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Skrtel has gone off - apparently injured - with Hyypia replacing him. Drogba caught the Slovakian on the knee. It might not, though, be a bad thing for Liverpool. The defender was struggling against Drogba. At the Sky's last count, Chelsea had had eight shots to Liverpool's three, which probably reflects the balance of play.
19min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
What a miss! Lampard releases Drogba down the left hand channel with a smart reverse pass, setting up a one-on-one with Reina, but the forward scuffs his shot wide. this time, Gray is unimpressed. "You have to force the keeper to make a save," he says when, in truth, Drogba should have scored.
17min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Terry makes a good interception on the halfway line and feeds Ballack, who makes ground but then deliberates for all of two seconds - far too long in these circumstances - and is dispossessed. Skrtel hoofs the ball forward to Torres with such strength that even the Spaniard cannot control it.
15min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Lampard works the ball from the right hand side of the pitch to Ashley Cole on the left. Keeping their passes accurate on a badly cut-up pitch, Makelele and Essien combine and send Drogba through the middle, only for Reina to sprint out of his area and clear with a crude punt. Try saying that quickly.
10min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
The first good chance. Liverpool release Torres down the left challenge - not sure how, but Andy Gray was impressed - and the forward races to outside edge of the six-yard box. Cech, though, reads the situation quickly, shuts down the angle and saves easily. Liverpool waste the free kick.
7min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
The first Liverpool attack. Gerrard curls a free kick from the touchline into the penalty area. Chelsea clear and embark on a counter-attack, which Liverpools stifle fairly comfortably. Cue a fruitless counter-attack from them. All of which happens in a matter of seconds. Though it barely seemed possible, the game is getting even quicker.
5min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Drogba does better out of two hefty tussles with Skrtel, winning a free kick from an aerial battle, then nicking the defender with a neat tackle. Not a good sign for Chelsea. The game has started frantically, featuring long balls and overly enthusiastic challenges... hello, Drogba, again. He turns you-know-how and hits a shot towards Reina's far post. He saves and concedes a corner, which comes to nout.
2min: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 (Agg: 1-1)
Ashley Cole drifts a long free kick to Drogba on the edge of the penalty area. He nods towards the wing and Chelsea win a throw-in. Ashley takes it, Joe Cole receives, but sends a pass to Kalou out of play. Times Online, meanwhile, struggles to inject irreverence into its opening post. Perhaps we should have warmed up.
1945BST: Champions League theme tune
Why must players stand to attention to this? As Martin Samuel suggests, why not just get everybody to salute to a big pile of money?
1940BST: Poor Riise
Apparently, the Chelsea fans roared in approval on hearing his name in the line-up. He can expect a few more jibes before the game is out. The sides are preparing to take to the pitch.
1930 BST: Teams announce - Lampard's playing
Yes, despite the recent death of his mother, the Chelsea midfielder is starting in central midfield in place of Essien, who slots in at right back. Few other surprises, apart perhaps from the inclusion of Kalou ahead of Malouda, who is on the bench. The Liverpool side is pretty much as you would expect, with the possible exception of Benayoun's selection ahead of Babel, a substitute. Riise is left back despite that calamitous own goal, while Hyypia and Crouch both start on the bench.
Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba. Subs: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Mikel, Malouda, Alex, Belletti, Anelka.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Riise, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Itandje, Finna, Hyypia, Crouch, Pennant, Babel, Lucas.
Live commentary: Chelsea v Liverpool, from 1945BST
After last night's enthralling contest at Old Trafford, Chelsea or Liverpool have the opportunity to make it an historic all-English final against Manchester United in Moscow. But Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool lately - Rafael Benitez's side has not won there for four seasons. Chelsea, then, have an excellent opportunity, to redress the balance after two agonising Champions League semi-final defeats against the Reds.
Will the result see Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr hugging in the boardroom? Or will Avram Grant be regaling the press at length about his team's victory?
For those who cannot make it to a TV, then, the best way to follow the action (we reckon) is via Times Online’s minute-by-minute commentary, starting just before kick-off at 7.45pm.
As always, the coverage is available on a mobile phone too, simply by texting Times to 86626. We look forward to seeing you then.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
FULL TIME Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
An amazingly tense final few minutes is brought mercifully to an end by Herr Fandel and United have done it! A professional performance and a wonder goal sealed it against the wonderful technicians of Barcelona, but you have to say over the two legs Sir Alex Ferguson's men deserved it. An extraordinary game - and an all English final to look forward to.
93 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
It's getting frantic. Messi tries to win a penalty by collapsing in the box but Herr Fandel isn't buying, while Evra gets a nasty boot in the face and can't continue - Mikael Silvestre comes on.
90 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Eidur Gudjohnsen is Rijkaard's last throw of the dice in place of Toure. Wes Brown has to make a determined challenge to take the ball away from Bojan. Three added minutes.
87 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
United are desperately trying to run down the clock and although they have defended stoutly, Barca have created little in the way of chances. Milito's hopeful punt wastes a few more precious seconds.
83 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Tevez wins the ball back for the umpteenth time tonight. The diminutive Argentina forward must have run ten miles tonight but United can't keep hold the ball long enough to settle nerves. Getting tense.
80 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
As United fans boo Barca possession, Henry wastes a golden chance to draw them level, tamely heading staright at Van der Sar from a Xavi corner. United counter attack and Ronaldo fires a firm shot just wide of Valdes' right hand post.
75 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Another pinpoint pass from Messi just evades on the onrushing Xavi. United need to keep the ball a bit better in midfield if they are to avoid trouble, and away from Messi. Nani, who has had a good game after a poor performance against Chelsea at the weekend, comes off to be replaced by Ryan Giggs while goalscorer Scholes gives way for Darren Fletcher as United hope to shore up midfield. The game still on a knife edge.
71 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Herr Fandel has got card happy all of a sudden and Ya Ya Toure's clumsy hack at Park means he will miss the final should Barcelona triumph. Frank Rijkaard shuffles his pack once again, bringing on striking sensation Bojan to replace the ineffectual Eto'o.
68 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Ronaldo is booked for a rugby tackle on Zambrotta before Messi jinks his way past several tackles and it takes a firm interception from Brown to keep the ball away from Eto'o.
65 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
Messi is brought down in his tracks by Carrick who gets the yellow card. A fierce freekick from Deco then is deflected just wide of the post. Barca turning the screw. Henry comes on for Iniesta to a predictable chorus of boos. Paul Scholes wonder goal - pictured here by Marc Aspland - seems a long time ago.
60 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
A brilliant run from Nani is spoiled by a lack of composure by the midfielder as he fires a shot high and wide. But after a period of intense Barca pressure, a typically swift United breakaway will give the Spanish team something to ponder.
57 min Manchester United 1 Barcelona 0
A rare piece of miscontrol from Messi sees the Arentina international fire wide, while a surging run and shot from Tevez at the other is palmed away strongly by Valdes and Puyol acrobatically overhead kicks it clear. It's end to end stuff now and Thierry Henry's arrival is imminent.