London - Chelsea survived one of the most dramatic matches in Champions League history to reach the semi-finals with a 4-4 draw against Liverpool in Tuesday's quarter-final second leg for a 7-5 aggregate victory.
Guus Hiddink's side, who will face Barcelona in the last four, came agonisingly close to squandering their 3-1 first leg lead as Liverpool twice pulled within one goal of a remarkable victory at Stamford Bridge.
The great escape looked on when Fabio Aurelio's free-kick and a Xabi Alonso penalty put Liverpool two goals ahead by half-time.
Chelsea staged a superb second half revival as an own goal by Jose Reina was followed by strikes from Alex and Frank Lampard to seemingly put the Blues in control.
But Liverpool had no intention of going out quietly and Lucas and Dirk Kuyt struck to set up a nerve-jangling finish. If the Reds scored again they would go through on away goals, but Lampard finally settled the tie with a minute to play.
For the second successive season, Chelsea have knocked their Premier League rivals out of Europe's elite club competition, but the nerves of every Chelsea player and fan inside Stamford Bridge must have been completely shredded before the Blues finally emerged victorious.
Liverpool, who were without injured captain Steven Gerrard, needed the kind of heroic display they produced to turn a three-goal deficit into Champions League final victory against AC Milan in 2005.
Full Story: http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/So...01-01-0001 12-01/Chelsea_survive_dramatic_tie
Guus Hiddink's side, who will face Barcelona in the last four, came agonisingly close to squandering their 3-1 first leg lead as Liverpool twice pulled within one goal of a remarkable victory at Stamford Bridge.
The great escape looked on when Fabio Aurelio's free-kick and a Xabi Alonso penalty put Liverpool two goals ahead by half-time.
Chelsea staged a superb second half revival as an own goal by Jose Reina was followed by strikes from Alex and Frank Lampard to seemingly put the Blues in control.
But Liverpool had no intention of going out quietly and Lucas and Dirk Kuyt struck to set up a nerve-jangling finish. If the Reds scored again they would go through on away goals, but Lampard finally settled the tie with a minute to play.
For the second successive season, Chelsea have knocked their Premier League rivals out of Europe's elite club competition, but the nerves of every Chelsea player and fan inside Stamford Bridge must have been completely shredded before the Blues finally emerged victorious.
Liverpool, who were without injured captain Steven Gerrard, needed the kind of heroic display they produced to turn a three-goal deficit into Champions League final victory against AC Milan in 2005.
Full Story: http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/So...01-01-0001 12-01/Chelsea_survive_dramatic_tie
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