Header Ads

Chelsea rallies to join Real Madrid in Champions League semifinals

It was one of the most memorable scenes in recent Champions League history -- Jose Mourinho running along the touchline to celebrate with his Porto side at Old Trafford after a late goal knocked out Manchester United in 2004.Ten years later Mourinho made another long dash on the touchline in the Champions League, this time after his Chelsea scored an 87th-minute goal through Demba Ba to take control against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals. He wasn't overlycelebrating but instead giving instructions to his team on how to protect the lead in the dying stages.Chelsea did hang on, winning 2-0 at home to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit and advance on awaygoals in a battle of the rich versus the rich in European football. Mourinho thus will be managing a team in the Champions League last four for the fifth consecutive campaign."Demba made a crucial finish for us and I think (it was) very much deserved," Mourinho told ITV. "The team that decided to defend was punished and the team that played with their heart deserved to go to the semis."A Champions League winner with Porto and Inter Milan, Mourinho is seeking to achieve the feat with his beloved Blues.Chelsea will be joined in the semis by Real Madrid, which survived -- barely -- without Cristiano Ronaldo against 2013 finalist Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund won 2-0 at home Tuesday but was eliminated 3-2 on aggregate.The opening 25 minutes in London suggested the visitors would comfortably cope with Chelsea.But after Salvatore Sirigu had to scramble to get a hand to Frank Lampard's deflected free kick, the game changed.Andre Schurrle, only on the field after an injury to Chelsea's offensive star, Eden Hazard, converted from David Luiz's flick in the 32nd minute.Stamford Bridge awoke, and Schurrle and Oscar struck the crossbar seconds apart shortly after the break.

No comments