Chelsea V Liverpool Match Report

In one of the greatest European games in anyones living memory, Chelsea held their nerve and managed to grind out a 4-4 draw on the night, which sent them through 7-5 on aggregate.

Liverpool started strongly, and were two up before the half hour. After Chelsea hit back and turned the game on its head by scoring three goals, Liverpool responded once again with two quick goals leaving the game at 4-3 on the night with five minutes to play. Lampard equalised late in the match to wrap up the tie to seal their place in the semi finals.

The first half followed a general theme throughout. Liverpool dictated, whilst Chelsea struggled to get any foothold on the game whatsoever. Liverpool seemed comfortable in possession, and even without the commanding figure of Steven Gerrard in midfield, they kept the ball very well. They struggled to carve a real opportunity from open play in the opening 15 minutes but did bring Petr Cech into action on a couple of occassions from set pieces.

Then, Liverpool were awarded a somewhat conspicious looking free kick from 35 yards out, on the right. As Cech prepared to come to claim the ball, Aurelio went for the vacant near post. The ground held its breath, and the ball seemed to travel in slow motion as Cech was caught by surprise and despite his scrambled efforts, could not reach the ball as it nestled into the corner of the net. Both fans and players now began to believe that the impossible was infact possible.

This drove on Liverpool once more, who looked dangerous everytime they went forward, down to a combination of the absence of John Terry, and Petr Cech who looked incredibly shaky everytime he was called into action. Within ten minutes, the match was level. Another free kick was awarded to Liverpool in a similar area to before. This time, Aurelio whipped the ball into the area, and after a brief period of confusion, it became apparent that Liverpool had been awarded a penalty. Replays suggested that the hero from the first leg – Ivanovic – had become the villian by pulling Alonso back in the area. Even with the absence of Gerrard, Xabi Alonso stepped up to the plate and buried the penalty.

Again, Liverpool attacked, with the knowledge they were now just one goal away from the Semi Finals. Chelsea looked mediocre going forward, even the reliable Frank Lampard struggled to get hold of the ball, and did very little with it, even when he did. Hiddink responded by bringing Kalou off, and introduced Nicolas Anelka. Shortly before half time, Liverpool could have gone infront of the whole tie. A ball came in from the left after some substancial Liverpool pressure that Cech came to punch, and totally missed. Fortunately, the Chelsea defence came to his rescue to ensure that the teams went in at 3 – 3 at half time.

Hiddink, obviously dissatisified from what his team has shown him thus far, dismissed his side early from the dressing room. However, the team talk seemed not to work as the second half began just as the first had ended. Again, Liverpool attacked, and looked dangerous. Then, in an instant, the game changed. Firstly, Drogba hit a free kick from 25 yards which skimmed past the post. Then, Anelka found space down the left. He hit a low cross into the box, which Drogba got the slightest touch on. This put Reina off, who fumbled the ball into the net. This left the game at 4-3 on aggregate.

Just over five minutes later, Chelsea were awarded a free kick in a central position, a full 35 yards from goal. Alex stepped up and smashed a swerving shot into the back of the net. Chelsea had now restored their two goal lead, and the Chelsea fans now started to dream of a Semi-Final against Barcelona. The reborn and revived Chelsea now looked comfortable and confident for the first time in the night. Ballack had a golden opportunity to put the game beyond all doubt but his side-footed effort from 12 yaeds was saved by Reina. The game was wrapped up – apparently anyway – by Lampard, when Drogba used his strength to get in behind the defence once again, and squared the ball to the Chelsea midfielder who stroked it home.

With the game surely heading to a quiet ending, the game took another incredible twist. Within three minutes, Liverpool were back needing just one goal again. Lucas was invited to come forward, 25 yards from goal. He struck the ball against Essien. The ball took a massive deflection, and trickled past a sprawling Petr Cech. Almost from kick-off, Liverpool came forward, in seach of a fourth. The ball fell to Albert Riera who played a perfect ball onto the head of Dirk Kuyt who headed home from six yards.

In case youve lost count by this point, after 85 minutes, the game was 4-3 to Liverpool on the night, and 6-5 on aggregate. Sorted? Good, let’s continue.

A frantic last five minutes followed. Liverpool searched desperately for the goal that would reverse the tie once again. However, at the other end of the pitch, some more brilliant work from Drogba led to a ball being fed into the box to Lampard, who hit the ball first time. The ball beat Reina, hit both posts, and then hit the back of the net. Four goals a piece on the night, 7-5 to Chelsea on aggregate.

This was the final score, but only down to a heroic piece of defending on the goal line by Michael Essien after Petr Cech flapped – not for the first time in the night – where he cleared the ball off the line after a well hit N’Gog strike.

 As the referee blew for full time, both the Liverpool and Chelsea fans sang with pride, as both teams contributed to one of the all time greatest European cup games. But ultimately, Chelsea were the victors, and they will go on to play Barcelona in the semi-final.