High Drama at Stamford: Blues in the finals!

Frank Lampard silences the Liverpool fans.

It was always going to be a tense game. Chelsea – Liverpool. They know each other well. From the EPL, of course, but twice Liverpool stopped The Blues of entering a CL finals. Mourinho the Chosen One couldn’t do it, now it’s up to Grant to finally please the chairman.

Liverpool hadn’t scored at Stamford in the last eight matches and with Riise’s late own goal, the stars smiled at Chelsea.

But, Liverpool has shown fighting spirit in the past and with the likes of Kuyt, Torres and Gerrard you can always expect dramatic come-backs.

Chelsea started strong, very strong. Great midfield play, high paced and inspired. Liverpool didn’t have an answer to Chelsea’s game play and resorted to lame kick-and-rush play. Torres got one half chance in the box and other than that it was a lot of running and…well…running. Chelsea dominated and played pretty good football, resulting in a deserved goal. It was Kuyt’s former striker partner Salo Kalou who penetrated the box. Reina stopped his shot but delivered the ball at Drogba’s feet who scored a dry goal in the near corner: 1-0. Chelsea through on aggregate.

In the second half, Chelsea decided to allow Liverpool the initiative. Chelsea fell back and soaked up the pressure, trying to counter attack. I think that was a mistake. Liverpool couldn’t settle in the first half, couldn’t find their rhythm but thanks to Chelsea they got back into the game. Yossi Benayoun played instead of Babel and although the Israeli worked hard, he couldn’t make a difference. Until half way the second half, when he dribbled from the right flank into the thick of things, passing the ball into the box in Torres’ stride. El Nino only needed a flick with his right to put the equalizer on the board: 1-1.

Chelsea tried to get back into the game and take the initiative. They managed to do so and created pressure but not enough to score.

Extra time, in other words. And penalties if neither of the teams would score.

In the first half of extra time, Chelsea took the initiative again and after some shenanigans in the box the ball fell for one of Chelsea’s best players Michael Essien, who took the ball from 20 meters and drove it past Reina. The fans and players erupted but the linesman signaled the ref. Four Blue jerseys were off side and one – Drogba – blocked Reina. The Pool goalie saw the ball late and didn’t even react. The ref disallowed the goal.

Not much later, however, Sami Hyppia fouled Ballack in the box. Or was it just outside? To close to call for the ref (I needed some slo-mo’s to determine that it actually happened just outside… or did it?), so he pointed at the spot. Penalty kick, with Frank Lampard on duties. The Chelsea midfielder lost his mum a few days earlier and with his eyes pointed at the heavens, he scored an immaculate goal, 2-1. The drama and celebrations that ensued were impressive and not much longer the festivities got even bigger. Sub Anelka was launched in the right channel and his low cross was flicked in the goal in one go by danger man Didier Drogba: 3-1.

Ryan Babel had come on for Torres and Liverpool could only pump the ball into the box, looking for a miracle. That miracle was almost to happen. With 5 minutes to go, Babel took hold of the ball some 35 meters from the goal and decided to go for glory. With all his powers he struck the ball, Petr Cech reacted just a second too late and the banana shot seemed to fast to stop: 3-2.

With three minutes on the clock and a lot of yoghurt in the leg muscles, the Reds tried to force the issue, but it wasn’t to be.

When the final whistle sounded, cheers and tears took over on the pitch. Arvam Grant prayed to the football Gods on his hands and knees and Sir Alex – present on the stands – knew he will have a handful come May 21.

The big guns at Liverpool couldn’t rise to the occasion, with marathon man Mascherano the best man in red. Ryan Babel had a great run for 30 minutes, Kuyt was involved in most attacking action and even had a good chance to score early in the second half, but that was about it.

The best scene of this match however, for me, was played out right in front of the Chelsea dug out, when Gerard wanted the ball for a quick throw in (second half, before Torres’ equalizer I think) and Grant sort of hung on to the leather beast. Gerard gave the Chelsea manager a thump and the Israeli fell in the dugout, legs up… A great moment .

Babel scored a beauty!