Goal! Weekly Article 11: European Champions League

ENGLISH FLAVOUR TO RUSSIAN FINALE
United and Chelsea set up historic clash
By Julius Ross

The European Champions League produced an extraordinary display of drama, passion and emotion last week as English heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea set up a first ever English final in the competition’s history.

United secured its place in the final in Moscow by defeating Barcelona 1-0 in a hard fought and nervy match at Old Trafford, whilst Chelsea advanced at the expense of fierce rivals Liverpool in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Whilst the pre-match build up was heavily focussed around the Barcelona – Manchester tie, which many thought would produce two high-scoring matches of supreme attacking and technical football; it was the emotion filled, heart-stopping encounter in London which drew the headlines.

Heading into the match at Stamford Bridge locked in a 1-1 draw, Chelsea had the upper hand over Liverpool, courtesy of an away goal, and Avram Grant’s side looked to kill off the tie straight from the kick-off.

Chelsea had failed to progress on two previous occasions against Liverpool, in 2005 and 2007, but it was third time lucky for the Londoners, as they secured a spot in the final through a 4-3, two-legged victory.

The home side started stronger than their English counterparts, buoyed by the combination of their endeavour to finally gain revenge over the Reds at the semi-final stag, and their recent, moral boosting English Premier League win over Manchester United.

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba was a changed man from the first leg, in which he was outclassed by Jamie Carragher, and after creating several early opportunities, he put his side ahead with a screaming shot past Pepe Reina’s near post, after a curling effort from Solomon Kalou had been parried into his path by the Liverpool ‘keeper.

Grant’s side remained dominant, as they created further openings through Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in the first half, but Liverpool still remained a threat as they held 55% of possession.

It was a tale of two halves, Liverpool came out firing in the second, and overturned Chelsea’s dominance in their favour, controlling possession and creating several chances in the attempt to once again draw the teams level.

The deserved breakthrough came after 64 minutes when a mazy run by Israeli international Yossi Benayoun saw him glide past three Chelsea players unchallenged and slide a ball through to Fernando Torres who duly slotted home the equaliser.

Neither side could find the decisive goal that would separate the sides in the 90 minute period, as extra time loomed with the two sides locked at 1-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool looked to continue their control of possession and momentum in first period of extra-time, but they soon surrendered their hold on their match, as a pulsating final period commenced.

The Merseysiders had to withstand immense pressure from the home side in the first period and Chelsea’s Michael Essien thought he had taken the lead when he smashed home from 18 yards.

Wheeling off in celebration after his wonder-strike, the Ghanaian was shocked to learn soon after that his goal had been disallowed, as several of his team-mates had been in an offside position, effectively interfering with play and Pepe Reina’s vision as the shot had flow in.

But Chelsea fans were soon celebrating again, as Liverpool’s Sami Hyypia clumsily brought down Michael Ballack in the box, giving Chelsea a tremendous chance to take the lead, as the drama and height of this epic battle met its zenith.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, returning from compassionate leave after his mother had passed away the previous week, stepped up with nerves of steel to send Reina the wrong way and bury his spot kick.

As the deafening roar of the Chelsea fans circulated throughout Stamford Bridge and beyond, Lampard pointed skyward in a gesture to his late mother, Pat, and was simultaneously congratulated and comforted by his team mates, in a truly emotional scene.

Lampard’s courage had given his side advantage and a 3-2 lead, and produced an extraordinary moment of footballing passion.

Chelsea’s lead was doubled right on the stroke of half-time in extra time as a perfect Nicolas Anelka cross was powered home by Drogba, as Liverpool finally looked down and out with the score at 4-2.

But as they so often do, the Reds remained resilient and clawed a goal back in the second period of extra time, through an outrageous effort from substitute Ryan Babel.

It was a case of too little, too late for Rafa Benitez side however, and their impressive Champions League run finally came to a halt in dramatic fashion as the Blues finished the stronger side.

Whilst an epic encounter in London had produced a dramatic display, Manchester also provided scenes of footballing passion .
A superstrike after 14 minutes by Paul Scholes was enough to see Manchester through 1-0 over the two legs against their Spanish opposition Barcelona, as scenes at Old Trafford echoed nostalgic memories of their 1999 winning campaign.

Prior to kick-off United’s fans created a mosaic with red and white pieces of paper which they held in unison to form the numbers 68 and 99; the years in which the team had previously won the Champions League.

Scholes’ strike was equally sensational for him as an individual, as in United’s winning 1999 campaign he had missed out on playing in the final through suspension.

United were lucky to progress, however, as they repeatedly deflected attacks from a determined Barcelona who dominated 63% of possession and the majority of opportunities.

Lionel Messi was again an inspiration for the Catalan giants, and he convincingly outshone PFA Player of the Year Christiano Ronaldo, who was largely subdued by Italian World Cup winning defender Gianluca Zambrotta in an intriguing battle.

But United seemed strangely comfortable to sit back on the 1-0 lead and absorb pressure, even though the 75,000 fans participated in extreme amounts of nail-biting throughout the match.

As the final whistle blew, United were into their first final since 1999, and 2006 winners Barcelona were eliminated despite their dominance in possession.

The two semis set up what will hopefully be another pulsating, dramatic, emotion-filled encounter, with Manchester United and Chelsea facing off in the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21.