Chelsea 2 Monaco 1 (HT)
(Monaco lead 4-3 on aggregate)
Chelsea reduced their first leg deficit by taking a 2-1 lead into the break against Monaco in their Champions League semi-final second leg tie at Stamford Bridge tonight.
The home side got into their rhythm much better than the French visitors and their sustained pressure paid-off in the 22nd minute through Gronkjaer.
The Blues' winger swung an opportune cross come shot from the right flank, which baffled the Monaco 'keeper Roma and found the top right hand corner of the net.
It was exactly the start Chelsea needed if they were to overcome the 3-1 defeat from the first leg. However, Chelsea couldn't rest on their laurels for long as Monaco's danger man up front Morientes hit the bar just minutes later.
Almost immediately Hasselbaink worked himself into space down the right on the half hour mark and placed an inch perfect cross on the head of striking partner Gudjohnsen in the six yard box. While his header beat Roma it ricocheted straight off the crossbar.
Moments later Lampard found himself in space inside the 18-yard box, neatly chested the ball down, then volleyed into the bottom left corner only for Roma to get his fingertips on the ball and away to safety.
After 40 minutes Cole made a defensive error down the left side, which opened up a gilt-edged chance for Morientes in front of goal. With only Cudicini to beat the Monaco striker pulled his shot inches wide of the right hand upright.
The tie was levelled on aggregate a minute before half time when Melchiot picked up the ball on the halfway line. He fed a neat ball through to Gudjohnsen who saw the run from Lampard, found him, the midfielder then hit it first time to pass Roma on the inside of the right hand post.
But when it looked as though Chelsea would have the upper hand going into the break, Monaco took advantage of a defensive Chelsea error on the stroke of halftime. A looping cross found Ibarra at the far post and struck with the easiest of headers to place the tie up in the air once more.
All to play for in the second half as Monaco lead 4-3 on aggregate.