BLUES IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
WHATEVER happens at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, it’s unlikely to match the astonishing drama of the Champions League quarter-final Chelsea and Liverpool played out there in April, 2009.
The second leg did look like a formality.
Branislav Ivanovic had netted twice at Anfield as Chelsea wiped out Fernando Torres’ early goal to win 3-1, leaving Guus Hiddink’s team on the brink of a fifth Champions League semi-final in six seasons.
The expectation was that even without John Terry Chelsea would see the job through – and Liverpool were without the injured Steven Gerrard.
Despite all of that, the tie was level inside half an hour.
Fabio Aurelio knew what everyone was expecting when he lined up to take a free-kick in the 19th minute – and did the opposite.
Rather than loft the ball to the far post, he dragged it inside Petr Cech’s near post to hand Rafael Benitez’s team a lifeline.
Chelsea fans jeered minutes later after Martin Skrtel scooped over from point-blank range – and then fumed after referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointed to the penalty spot.
He ruled Xabi Alonso had been fouled and Alonso picked himself to level the scores at 3-3 on aggregate.
Chelsea supporters booed their team off at half-time – but 12 minutes after they were smiling again.
Didier Drogba got a toe to substitute Nicolas Anelka’s near-post cross, sending it out of Pepe Reina’s butter-fingered grasp.
Reina had no chance with Chelsea’s equaliser, a free-kick from Brazilian Alex to put the Blues two goals ahead on aggregate again.
The tie looked over after 76 minutes. Drogba teed up the unmarked Frank Lampard for a six-yard finish for 3-2 and, more importantly, 6-3 on aggregate.
That was how the score stood after 81 minutes - but two minutes later Chelsea were rattled.
Lucas Leiva - with the help of a deflection off Michael Essien - gave Liverpool a possible way back.
Then Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt put mission impossible within reach after heading powerfully home.
With seven minutes left another Reds goal would have won them the tie.
The final word instead went to Lampard in the dying seconds.
Anelka’s pass picked him out and, without looking at his target, Lampard swept a right-foot shot in off the far post for 4-4 and 7-5 on aggregate.