Monaco 3 Chelsea 1
Claudio Ranieri recklessly gambled with Chelsea's Champions League hopes in Monte Carlo and lost heavily in a defeat which may prove the final straw for his impatient boss, Roman Abramovich.
There is, of course, still some hope for Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Monaco back at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight's time.
However, this was a tie there for the taking when Monaco, who had been pegged back to 1-1 by Hernan Crespo keeping his promise to deliver, were reduced to 10 men with 37 minutes left.
It was not even a warranted dismissal as Claude Makelele was guilty of blatant play-acting in making the most of a weak pat on the head.
Ranieri clearly sensed blood and sent on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in a three-pronged strikeforce, while Mario Melchiot was replaced at right-back by first a midfielder - Scott Parker - and then a centre-back, Robert Huth.
They were quixotic moves and the Italian's tinkering was fully punished.
For as Chelsea naively pushed forward, they left themselves open at the back and first Fernando Morientes, on loan from Real Madrid, and then Shabani Nonda took full advantage.
And so Chelsea had put themselves on the precipice of elimination from the apparent brink of success, all in front of a Russian multi-millionaire who simply does not tolerate failure.
Marcel Desailly, meanwhile, also escaped with an apparent elbow on Morientes that could still bring him post-match punishment.
Chelsea now need to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to make it through to the final and, while hope is not altogether lost, their recent record at home is none too impressive.
Indeed, they have stumbled ever since their quarter-final victory against Arsenal, with goalless draws against both Middlesbrough and Everton at home.