No Europe blues for Chelsea

Liverpool’s goals came from Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, whose speculative 40-metre shot three minutes from the end of extra time somehow bamboozled Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and revived Liverpool’s hopes for the last few minutes. But Chelsea held on in an absorbing match that was in the balance until the final kick.

They can now look forward to facing Manchester United in the first all-English Champions League final on May 21.

“It has not sunk in properly,” said Chelsea captain John Terry. “We will enjoy tonight but it will take 24 hours to sink in.”

Decisive impact

WHILE Drogba was the scoring hero on Wednesday with two excellent, powerfully-executed goals, the remarkable Lampard was the emotional focus of Chelsea’s ecstatic fans.

The England midfielder, back following the death of his 58-year-old mother last week, wept after scoring the decisive penalty that put them 2-1 ahead in the 98th minute and got a standing ovation when he was substituted near the end.

He had a decisive impact on the match, too, beginning the move that led to Chelsea’s opening goal after 33 minutes and which Drogba completed after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina did well to parry a fiercely struck shot from Salomon Kalou.

Liverpool, who had not scored at Stamford Bridge in their last eight visits, broke that hoodoo in the 64th minute when Torres equalised after a brilliant run from Yossi Benayoun. The Israel midfielder sent Chelsea’s defence into a spin, playing the final ball through Ricardo Carvalho’s legs.

It was enough to take the game to extra time where the match turned Chelsea’s way again in a five-minute spell. First, Michael Essien appeared to have put Chelsea ahead 2-1 and ran half the length of the pitch celebrating before everyone realised he had been disallowed for offside.

On the spot

However, two minutes later Chelsea were ahead once more when Lampard sent Reina the wrong way from the spot after Sami Hyypia had fouled Michael Ballack. Drogba appeared to have finally killed Liverpool off when he turned in a cross from Nicolas Anelka after 105 minutes.

But Liverpool got an unlikely reprieve with Babel’s goal. That, though, was their last hurrah as Chelsea held on to celebrate an epic win in front of their delirious fans.