UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGE SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG: Chelsea 1 Barcelona 1 (Agg 1-1: Barcelona win on away goals)IN THE third minute of stoppage time, a Barcelona side reduced to 10 men by the red card for Eric Abidal found the means to deny Chelsea. They worked the ball with care and set up Andres Iniesta to score with a spectacular drive. Time still remained for Michael Ballack to be booked for his claim that he should have a penalty for a drive blocked illegally. The referee was unmoved.
Chelsea, despite Michael Essien’s early opener, have not retraced their steps to a second consecutive Champions League final. Manchester United will now defend their title against Pep Guardiola’s slick side in Rome.
Barcelona had seemed punchless for most of the night and will lack Daniel Alves through suspension as well as Abidal. The victors betrayed other failings here before rallying in desperation. There was a torment about coming to an English ground for many of these Barcelona players. While Frank Rijkaard was in charge, they had also arrived in England a year ago after a goalless draw and were beaten 1-0 by Manchester United at this stage of the tournament.
From time to time, a mental block appeared to exist here. That sort of ethereal concern is tough to address and the current manager, Guardiola, had other decisions to take, particularly since one centre-half Rafael Marquez had been hurt in the first leg and another, the captain Carles Puyol, was suspended. Yaya Toure deputised, taking his place beside Gerard Pique at the core of the back four.
Still, Barcelona’s enforced alterations would have intrigued Guus Hiddink. While he might not have intended quite such a defensive stance at Camp Nou, where Chelsea pinned themselves down by losing possession cheaply, more boldness was called for here. That was reflected, for instance, in the preference of an attacking right-back, Jose Bosingwa, over the conservative Branislav Ivanovic.
Ashley Cole, with his ban served, returned on the other flank and might have expected to face the dynamic and elusive Lionel Messi from the outset. For 25 minutes, however, Guardiola opted to keep the Argentinian in the centre of attack, where he had devastated Real Madrid in a 6-2 win at the weekend.
The ninth minute opener from Essien was indisputably spectacular. A Frank Lampard ball came back off Yaya Toure and the Ghanaian, from some 22 yards, hit a thunderous yet controlled volley with his left foot in to the net off the underside of the bar.
Essien had lost about two thirds of this campaign to a cruciate ligament injury but, by way of compensation, there is a freshness to him at this key phase of the campaign.
Barcelona, despite a great deal of possession, were anxious and asked almost nothing of the Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in the first half.
They realised the trouble they were in and Alves did not indulge in protracted histrionics when receiving a booking for a foul on Cole.
The visitors also felt the absence of Thierry Henry, who had been dynamic in the fist leg. He had not got over a knee injury. Chelsea, unable as they were to keep the ball, had more of an edge to them. Drogba, for instance, ought to have had a penalty when Abidal tugged his shirt as the Ivorian pursued a Lampard pass in the 27th minute. Shortly before, the referee Tom Henning Ovrebo awarded a free-kick just outside the area for another foul on Drogba that had taken place inside the box.
As it was, the precarious 1-0 lead began to gnaw at Hiddink’s team as Barcelona discovered a keener purpose following the interval.
The pressure endured by Chelsea at Camp Nou was being relived and an opportunity to release it was squandered in the 53rd minute. Florent Malouda fed Anelka, who rolled the ball across the penalty area from the left. Drogba created a problem for himself with a heavy first touch. His shot hit the foot of Valdes.
Barcelona, with no cause for inhibition, hunted the away goal that might make them masters of the tie. For all the superiority of Guardiola’s men in the arts of the game, Chelsea had suffered from squandered opportunities. In the first leg Drogba had been clear but Valdes denied him with a double save.
The Chelsea striker did make an impact with the flick that sent Anelka racing towards he area. Abidal, intentionally or otherwise, bumped into the Frenchman who went down. Ovrebo then sent off the Barcelona defender. Anelka was later denied a penalty for a blatant hand-ball by Pique.
The replacement of Drogba by the midfielder Juliano Belletti also demonstrated Hiddink wanted to hold tight to a slender advantage. But Essien’s mistake saw Messi set up Iniesta’s late strike which ended the drama.
Guardian Service
CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Anelka, Drogba (Belletti 72), Malouda. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Mikel, Kalou, Mancienne. Booked: Essien, Alex, Ballack.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Dani Alves, Toure Yaya, Pique, Abidal, Busquets (Bojan 85), Xavi, Keita, Messi, Eto'o (Sylvinho 90), Iniesta (Gudjohnsen 90). Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Hleb, Pedrito. Sent Off: Abidal (66). Booked: Dani Alves, Eto'o.
Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).
Attendance: 37,857
Champions League final
Manchester United V Barcelona
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Date: Wed May 27th (7.45)
SERIE AS penultimate weekend of fixtures may have to be moved to accommodate the Champions League final, Italian soccer officials said yesterday.
Uefa has asked the Italian federation to hand over the keys to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico seven days before the showpiece on May 27th when Manchester United will defend their title against Barcelona.
Olimpico tenants Lazio are to due host relegation-threatened Reggina on May 24th. Matches in the last two weekends of the Serie A season are supposed to kick off at the same time to avoid some teams gaining an advantage from knowing other scores.
Italian federation president Giancarlo Abete said all options were being considered.
