Uefa Champions League round of 16 first leg: Chelsea 1 - Barcelona 2Chelsea are on the verge of extinction in the competition, having not only been beaten but also conceding two away goals, with Samuel Eto'o winning the game by heading home Rafael Marquez's cross in the 79th minute, writes Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge
It was a result Barcelona fully deserved and they could easily have netted a few more only for the heroics of John Terry, who was lucky not to concede a late penalty after a rugby-like tackle on Lionel Messi.
However, the greatest damage of all had been done by Asier del Horno, who was sent off for a crass challenge on Messi in the first half. A bold Chelsea went on to take the lead through a Thiago Motta own goal before Terry inadvertently sent the ball into his own net, but it was the sins of a Spanish left-back that changed the match and, probably, his club's season.
The first-half had smacked of patience more than vengeance before the red card for Del Horno. Barcelona were smart enough to resort to using Edmilson and Motta, two tall holding players, to establish a secure base in midfield. A year ago at Stamford Bridge there had been a 3-0 lead for Chelsea by the 18th minute, but that was a return leg while this was merely the initial set of negotiations over the future of the tie.
There was some hard bargaining. Hernan Crespo, writhing on the ground after a tackle from behind that earned Barcelona's captain Carles Puyol a booking after 20 minutes, confirmed it. For all that, the game was hotly contested rather than brutal and the La Liga leaders had not actually abandoned their principles.
There had far too much purity of intention for Chelsea's liking in the 19th minute. A spate of passes between Deco, Messi and Eto'o set up Ronaldinho and it took sheer weight of numbers to repel him on the edge of the six-yard box. The Brazilian was also to draw a fine save from Petr Cech following an Oleguer cut-back after half-an-hour.
At this point Chelsea, who must have anticipated their opponents hogging possession, may have believed patience and organisation on their part would still be rewarded. There had been hints of laxness from Barcelona, as when they stood off so that Frank Lampard could take a free-kick near the halfway line, gather a return ball from Joe Cole and try a shot.
All assumptions were altered, of course, by the dismissal of Del Horno. The Spaniard, who has not made a noteworthy contribution in his first season at Chelsea, at last hit the deadlines. Those who wondered how he would deal with the mercurial Messi received the unpleasant answer in the 36th minute. The 19-year-old skipped away from Arjen Robben near the corner flag and Del Horno, who had already been guilty of one poor challenge in the match, dealt with the situation by jumping into the Argentinian and knocking him to the ground.
Chelsea may have been expected a caution, but it was assuredly a piece of violent conduct and the Norwegian referee Terje Hauge was within his rights to expel the left-back. The decision provoked memories of Didier Drogba's red card when these sides met at Camp Nou last season, but the rashness of Del Horno's actions cannot be disputed.
Jose Mourinho reacted by bringing on Geremi for Joe Cole so that his remaining players had more conservative characteristics, and that policy also saw the tough Didier Drogba introduced for Crespo after the interval. Barcelona might still have been ahead in first-half stoppage time. Cech turned a Deco drive behind and Marquez's shot following the corner was blocked by the arm of Geremi as he turned his back, but Hauge discerned no intent in the parry.
Chelsea had much to consider at the interval. With William Gallas out injured, even the assured Mourinho could have been doubting his decision to send the England left-back Wayne Bridge on loan to Fulham last month. The moderate Del Horno, for as long as he lasted, was the sole specialist who remained yesterday.
Mourinho's immediate reflections were about reorganisation. With Geremi now on at right-back and Paulo Ferreira switched to the other flank, Mourinho utilised a 4-3-2 with his diminished manpower. Barcelona must have seen a chance to win the tie here and Chelsea sought to discourage them by retaining some threat.
Robben had even shot wide from an angle before, extraordinarily, Chelsea went ahead in the 59th minute. Lampard swept in a free-kick from the left that was diverted past the goalkeeper Victor Valdes by the knee of Motta.
An equaliser, however, was conceded through another own-goal in the 71st minute when Marquez got in front of Terry as Ronaldinho whipped in a free-kick that brushed the head of the Chelsea captain to beat Cech. After 74 minutes, Terry then had to clear from the line to stop the Barcelona substitute Henrik Larsson from scoring and later performed the same feat to thwart Ronaldinho. But in the end it was total football that decided this pulsating tie.
CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno, Makelele, Joe Cole (Geremi 40), Gudjohnsen, Lampard, Robben (Wright-Phillips 78), Crespo (Drogba 45). Subs not used: Cudicini, Maniche, Duff, Huth.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Oleguer, Marquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst (Sylvinho 69), Messi, Deco (Iniesta 84), Edmilson, Motta (Larsson 65), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. Subs not used: Jorquera, Belletti, Ezquerro, Van Bommel. Booked: Puyol, Iniesta.
Referee: T Hauge (Norway).
