Demba Ba advances CHELSEA
Ba goal sees Chelsea past PSG
Chelsea snatched a dramatic
late goal through Demba Ba
to beatParis St Germain 2-0
and reach the Champions
League semifinals on the
away goals rule on another memorable
European night at Stamford Bridge on
Tuesday.
Substitute striker Ba, who replaced Frank
Lampard midway through the second half,
struck with time running out for the 2012
European champions, who looked to be going
out of the competition after losing the first
leg 3-1 last week.
But Ba's goal in the 87th minute levelled the
tie at 3-3 and Chelsea, evoking memories of
their battling and ultimately successful
campaign two seasons ago, went through on
away goals thanks to Eden Hazard's penalty
in Paris last week.
Andre Schuerrle, who replaced the injured
Hazard after only 17 minutes on Tuesday,
had given Chelsea hope with a superbly
taken goal after 32 minutes but Jose
Mourinho's perfect record of winning all eight
European quarterfinals he had been involved
in, seemed about to end with time running
out.
Ba sealed victory, though, when a Cesar
Azpilicueta shot was deflected to him in the
area and he scooped the ball past keeper
Salvatore Sirigu to send the home fans into
raptures as Mourinho sprinted down the
touchline to join his celebrating players.
"It all happened so quick," said Ba. "I saw
the ball and it was in the goal. I just do what
I have to do when I get chances. I didn't have
chances this season but tonight I took it."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho added on
ITV: "Demba made a crucial finish for us and
I think very much deserved. The team that
decided to defend was punished and the
team that played with their heart deserved to
go to the semis."
The Portuguese coach's dash along the
touchline evoked memories of his famous
Old Trafford celebration when his Porto side
beat Manchester United in 2004 although this
time he was also keen to tell his players not
to take any risks.
It is the seventh time in 11 Champions
League campaigns that Chelsea have
reached the last four and Mourinho is on
course to become the first manager to win
the European Cup with three clubs after
triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan
in 2010.
Mourinho had told his players to "go out and
play with a smiles on their faces" as they had
nothing to lose after last week's defeat, but
they failed to make an early impression as
PSG dominated the midfield and pegged
Chelsea back.
Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Marco
Verratti took a stranglehold in the middle of
the park for the visitors, who were playing
with the kind of confidence that comes from a
team who have won their last 11 matches.
But PSG coach Laurent Blanc, who said his
best form of defending their first leg lead was
to attack, appeared to have different tactics
in reality and his side failed to seriously test
Chelsea when they held the upper hand.
SUCCESS INEVITABLE
Although PSG were minutes away from
reaching the last four for the first time since
1995, their was an increasing air of
inevitability that Chelsea would steal that
chance from them.
The visitors' only real attempts came in the
closing stages with the score still 1-0 on the
night and PSG 3-2 ahead on aggregate when
striker Edinson Cavani twice went close.
If either of those efforts had gone in, Chelsea
would have probably gone out but the
London side survived and took their own
scoring opportunity when it came.
They had also gone close twice early in the
second half when first Germany international
Schuerrle, who had a magnificent match, and
then Oscar, from a freekick, clattered the bar.
With their fans roaring them on, Chelsea
finished by far the better team and it seemed
a matter of time before they repeated their
heroics against Napoli in 2012.
On that occasion they came back from losing
the first leg 3-1 in Italy to win 4-1 at
Stamford Bridgeafter extra time before going
on to win the trophy a few months later.
"This competition means a lot to us," said
Chelsea defender and captain John Terry,
who was suspended for the final when
Chelsea won the competition for the only
time.
"The experiences we have had keeps you
fighting and believing. Winning it was the
best feeling ever. These big performances
are what we live for.
"Everyone doubted us tonight but we showed
great character and fight to come back. It all
paid off," he added on ITV ahead of Friday's
semifinal draw.
© Reuters
Chelsea snatched a dramatic
late goal through Demba Ba
to beatParis St Germain 2-0
and reach the Champions
League semifinals on the
away goals rule on another memorable
European night at Stamford Bridge on
Tuesday.
Substitute striker Ba, who replaced Frank
Lampard midway through the second half,
struck with time running out for the 2012
European champions, who looked to be going
out of the competition after losing the first
leg 3-1 last week.
But Ba's goal in the 87th minute levelled the
tie at 3-3 and Chelsea, evoking memories of
their battling and ultimately successful
campaign two seasons ago, went through on
away goals thanks to Eden Hazard's penalty
in Paris last week.
Andre Schuerrle, who replaced the injured
Hazard after only 17 minutes on Tuesday,
had given Chelsea hope with a superbly
taken goal after 32 minutes but Jose
Mourinho's perfect record of winning all eight
European quarterfinals he had been involved
in, seemed about to end with time running
out.
Ba sealed victory, though, when a Cesar
Azpilicueta shot was deflected to him in the
area and he scooped the ball past keeper
Salvatore Sirigu to send the home fans into
raptures as Mourinho sprinted down the
touchline to join his celebrating players.
"It all happened so quick," said Ba. "I saw
the ball and it was in the goal. I just do what
I have to do when I get chances. I didn't have
chances this season but tonight I took it."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho added on
ITV: "Demba made a crucial finish for us and
I think very much deserved. The team that
decided to defend was punished and the
team that played with their heart deserved to
go to the semis."
The Portuguese coach's dash along the
touchline evoked memories of his famous
Old Trafford celebration when his Porto side
beat Manchester United in 2004 although this
time he was also keen to tell his players not
to take any risks.
It is the seventh time in 11 Champions
League campaigns that Chelsea have
reached the last four and Mourinho is on
course to become the first manager to win
the European Cup with three clubs after
triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan
in 2010.
Mourinho had told his players to "go out and
play with a smiles on their faces" as they had
nothing to lose after last week's defeat, but
they failed to make an early impression as
PSG dominated the midfield and pegged
Chelsea back.
Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Marco
Verratti took a stranglehold in the middle of
the park for the visitors, who were playing
with the kind of confidence that comes from a
team who have won their last 11 matches.
But PSG coach Laurent Blanc, who said his
best form of defending their first leg lead was
to attack, appeared to have different tactics
in reality and his side failed to seriously test
Chelsea when they held the upper hand.
SUCCESS INEVITABLE
Although PSG were minutes away from
reaching the last four for the first time since
1995, their was an increasing air of
inevitability that Chelsea would steal that
chance from them.
The visitors' only real attempts came in the
closing stages with the score still 1-0 on the
night and PSG 3-2 ahead on aggregate when
striker Edinson Cavani twice went close.
If either of those efforts had gone in, Chelsea
would have probably gone out but the
London side survived and took their own
scoring opportunity when it came.
They had also gone close twice early in the
second half when first Germany international
Schuerrle, who had a magnificent match, and
then Oscar, from a freekick, clattered the bar.
With their fans roaring them on, Chelsea
finished by far the better team and it seemed
a matter of time before they repeated their
heroics against Napoli in 2012.
On that occasion they came back from losing
the first leg 3-1 in Italy to win 4-1 at
Stamford Bridgeafter extra time before going
on to win the trophy a few months later.
"This competition means a lot to us," said
Chelsea defender and captain John Terry,
who was suspended for the final when
Chelsea won the competition for the only
time.
"The experiences we have had keeps you
fighting and believing. Winning it was the
best feeling ever. These big performances
are what we live for.
"Everyone doubted us tonight but we showed
great character and fight to come back. It all
paid off," he added on ITV ahead of Friday's
semifinal draw.
© Reuters
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