Lucky Real escape from Dortmund
LONDON: Chelsea snatched a dramatic late goal through Demba Ba to beat Paris St Germain 2-0 and reach the Champions League semifinals on the away goals rule on another memorable European night at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo watched helplesly from the bench as Real Madrid scraped into the semis by edging past a revitalised Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-0 defeat.
Substitute striker Ba, who replaced Frank Lampard midway through the second half, struck with time running out for the 2012 European champions Chelsea, who looked to be going out of the competition after losing the first leg 3-1 last week.
But Ba’s goal in the 87th minute levelled the tie at 3-3 and Chelsea, evoking memories of their battling and ultimately successful campaign two seasons ago, went through on away goals thanks to Eden Hazard’s penalty in Paris last week.
Andre Schuerrle, who replaced the injured Hazard after only 17 minutes on Tuesday, had given Chelsea hope with a superbly taken goal after 32 minutes but Jose Mourinho’s perfect record of winning all eight European quarterfinals he had been involved in, seemed about to end with time running out.
Ba sealed victory, though, when a Cesar Azpilicueta shot was deflected to him in the area and he scooped the ball past keeper Salvatore Sirigu to send the home fans into raptures as Mourinho sprinted down the touchline to join his celebrating players.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said: “Demba made a crucial finish for us and I think very much deserved. The team that decided to defend was punished and the team that played with their heart deserved to go to the semis.”
It is the seventh time in 11 Champions League campaigns that Chelsea have reached the last four and Mourinho is on course to become the first manager to win the European Cup with three clubs after triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
Mourinho had told his players to “go out and play with a smiles on their faces” as they had nothing to lose after last week’s defeat, but they failed to make an early impression as PSG dominated the midfield and pegged Chelsea back.
Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti took a stranglehold in the middle of the park for the visitors, who were playing with the kind of confidence that comes from a team who have won their last 11 matches.
But PSG coach Laurent Blanc, who said his best form of defending their first leg lead was to attack, appeared to have different tactics in reality and his side failed to seriously test Chelsea.
The visitors’ only real attempts came in the closing stages with the score still 1-0 on the night and PSG 3-2 ahead on aggregate when striker Edinson Cavani twice went close.
If either of those efforts had gone in, Chelsea would have probably gone out but the London side survived and took their own scoring opportunity when it came.
In Dortmund, two first half goals by Marco Reus, both coming from Real mistakes, gave Dortmund a deserved lead as the Spaniards, who had a penalty saved in the 17th minute, were left mesmerised by the Germans’ frantic pace on a rainy evening in the Ruhr valley.
Real, with top scorer Ronaldo left among the substitutes resting a minor knee injury, saw their 3-0 lead from the first leg in Madrid almost evaporate in a disastrous first half after Reus struck in the 24th and 37th minutes for the home side.
Dortmund also had a great chance to level the aggregate score but Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s shot hit the post in the 65th.
“That was too much suffering and I think it was deserved,” said Real keeper Iker Casillas. “But from time to time it’s good to have this kind of wake up call that reminds us it’s not always easy, and especially not in the Champions League.
Real, who twice lost to Dortmund in Germany in last season’s competition, including a 4-1 thrashing in the first leg of their semifinal, briefly recovered in the second half before the Germans, last season’s runners-up, again surged forward, missing half a dozen clear chances before hitting the post.
Reus pounced on a defensive mistake by Pepe to slot in for the lead.
Mats Hummels almost added another but his well-timed header was palmed over the bar by Casillas.
Germany international Reus crashed in his second goal after he charged forward following another Real mistake, this time from Asier Illarramendi, fed striker Robert Lewandowski, who hit the post, and was left unmarked to drill in at the far post.
The Spanish side’s first-leg performance, however, carried them through to their fourth consecutive semifinal, leaving Dortmund to rue missed opportunities. (AFP)