A fabulous strike in the stoppage time from Adres Iniesta stunned Chelsea and sent Barcelona to the Uefa Champions League Final in Rome against Manchester Utd.
Chelsea took the lead with a stunning first half left-foot volley from 25 yards from Micheal Essien at the 9th minute.Chelsea continued to pressure Barcelona but failed to an excellent Barcelona keeper, Valdes.
In the second half at the 66th minute , Adidal was sent off after he brought down Anelka.Barcelona was reduced to ten man.At the 72th minute, much to the home crowd’s suprise ,Drogba was replaced by Belletti.
Barcelona managed to equalise at the 93th minute from an outrageous Iniesta strike after Michael Essien’s weak clearance was picked up by Lionel Messi inside the Chelsea area and Messi decided to pass the ball to Iniesta.
At the final whistle, Cheslea strike Drodga came on the feel to protest again Norvegian referee Tom Ovrebo for not giving Chelsea four penalty.Drodga was yellow carded.
“I can fully understand in the emotion of the game, as long as they don’t touch him, I can fully understand this disappointment,” said Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink on Drodga moves after the final whistle.
“It’s not just one decision in doubt but it’s several not made decisions.” added Guus Hiddink.
“Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes, the referee can make mistakes,’ Guus Hiddink Began his press Conference. “And that is why we give them the benefit of the doubt sometimes. That is all in the game.”
“But if you have seen three or four situations waved away, then it is the worst I have seen. At this moment I have to think a lot if I have seen worse.”
“What I am sure about is in games like this you really have to get top-notch referees with lots of experience of the big leagues in Italy, Spain, Germany and England.” he added
“You have sometimes to give the benefit of doubt to the referee, because you can discuss whether there was a penalty when Drogba had his shirt pulled in the first-half but you can also discuss last week whether Henry was pulled on his shirt in the area. But if you have three or four situations?”
Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola said that he can understand Chelsea disappointment but he did not see any penalties.
“They say a lot of penalties is possible but I didn’t see. ” said Pep Guardiola.
“When we had 10 men it was really hard, but we managed to score in the last minute and there are no words to describe how happy the team is at the moment. It was enough for us to qualify for the final. When the ball touched my arm I didn’t want to touch it, but you have to respect the decision of the referee. It means a lot to play Manchester United, but more because we are in the final.” said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique
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.
Goals: Essien 9.
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.
Goals: Iniesta 90.
Ref: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).
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Tags: Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Guus Hiddink, UEFA, UEFA Champions League
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