Madrid strolls, Chelsea squeaks in to Champions League semis
LONDON – Real Madrid had only just ended APOEL Nicosia’s extraordinary run and reached the Champions League semifinals when Jose Mourinho’s thoughts turned to the potential opponent in the final.
“Barcelona is not favourite, it’s super favourite,” Mourinho said Wednesday. “Barcelona will definitely play the final because they are very good.”
Mourinho was e ectively writing o Chelsea’s prospects o pulling o a semifinal upset win over the title holders after his former club had eliminated Benfica.
First things, first. Mourinho’s Madrid must overcome Bayern Munich in the semifinals to keep alive his hopes of reaching the final, and delivering the club’s 10th European title.
Conquering Bayern should be a tougher assignment than ending APOEL Nicosia’s remarkable run as the first Cypriot team to reach the knockout stages of the Europe’s illustrious competition.
Madrid romped to a 5-2 victory — 8-2 on aggregate — as Cristiano Ronaldo raised his goal tally for the season to 49.
It was a tough night for Chelsea despite going 2-0 up on aggregate in the 21st minute when Frank Lampard netted the return shot from the penalty spot.
Despite Maxi Pereira being sent o before half time, Javi Garcia headed Benfica back into the game in the 85th.
Raul Meireles netted a stoppage-time goal to secure Chelsea’s 3-1 aggregate victory and a chance to avenge a 2009 semi loss to Barcelona.
TFC stunned by Santos
It just never sounded true or felt right: Toronto FC, Major League Soccer’s winless basement dwellers, advancing to the CONCACAF Champions League final.
At some point something worse and more predictable was going to happen — TFC’S crippling defensive errors in MLS were going to taint the dream.
Toronto had done the unthinkable throughout the group stage, and into the quarter-finals — scoring crucial goals and winning away from home. And forward Joao Plata opened the scoring of Wednesday’s second leg of the semifinal against Santos Laguna in Torreon, Mexico, and then scored again when the Mexican league leaders tied it.
In four moments to follow, defenders Miguel Aceval, Ty Harden and midfielder Julian de Guzman did the characteristic TFC thing and chose the silly instead of the safe.
Reality, wearing green and white striped jerseys, bit into Toronto’s shaky back line, and everything came apart.
By the time Santos midfielder Daniel Luduena scored the sixth goal — capping the 6-2 victory and a 7-3 aggregate score line — the dream for Toronto was ended.