After going up 1-0 10 minutes into the game on a volley that was part skill but more luck by Michael Essien, Chelsea looked to put the clamps on a Barcelona side that had dominated possession through most of the two-legged tie. It looked lost for Barcelona when Eric Abidal was sent off for a phantom challenge on Nicolas Anelka. Still, even with 10 men, Barca kept on possession.
Drogba missed the Chavs' best chance to win the game, firing a wide-open shot directly at Barca keeper Victor Valdez. Valdez knocked it away to relative safety, and Barca were kept in it.
Chelsea seemed to lose all attacking vigor at this point. They simply sat back and tried to contain the ultra-skilled Barcelona team.
History will be made to remember this as a grievous strategical error. Barca kept coming and coming, even without generating any truly quality chances. Finally, three minutes into injury time, a poorly cleared ball fell to the feet of Andres Iniesta, who fired home from the edge of the 18-yard box directly to the top-right corner.
Final statistics for the game showed Barca held the ball for over 70% of the game - an astonishing number, especially on the road at Stamford Bridge.
I fucking love it when the Chavs lose, especially a gut-wrencher like this one. In the semi-final of the most prestigious club tournament in the world. They arrogantly thought they could bully their way through after gaining the lead, and their thuggish brand of football was their ultimate undoing.
More on this after work.
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