Chelsea 4 Liverpool 4 (Chelsea win 7-5 on aggregate):THE SUPPOSEDLY simple path to the semi-final encounter with Barcelona led along the edge of an precipice for Chelsea.
Having come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 last night, a resolute and inspired Liverpool reacted by striking twice. A drive by Lucas deflected from Michael Essien hit the net in the 81st minute and two minutes later the visitors had the lead as Dirk Kuyt nodded in a delivery from the substitute Albert Riera.
Another goal then would have put Liverpool ahead in the tie. Instead, it was to be Frank Lampard who took his chance coolly after being picked out by the substitute Nicolas Anelka. Even then, Michael Essien was called upon to clear from the Chelsea goal-line as a magnificently bold Liverpool refused to abandon hope.
They had lacked their injured captain Steven Gerrard here, but it was the suspension of Chelsea’s leader John Terry that looked as if it could be devastating. In essence, it was the uncontainable Didier Drogba who overcame Liverpool.
By comparison with the visitors, the home side seemed originally to have had no concerns following their 3-1 win in the first leg. All the same, there was a tricky judgment for Guus Hiddink to make and it soon emerged the Chelsea manager had not reached the correct conclusion. He had to determine what degree of enterprise should be shown here, but in reality he sent out a side whose passivity implied that they wanted simply to watch the clock run down.
A muted team sparked thoughts of rumbustious triumph in the minds of Rafael Benitez’s players. It was a risk that appeared not to occur to a dilatory Chelsea, who were 2-0 down before a half-hour had elapsed. There was a hint of that jeopardy as early as the 13th minute. Yossi Benayoun’s build up from the right opened up space for Fernando Torres in the centre, but his effort travelled high and wide. A sense had been conveyed that a position of near hopelessness liberates people. It did Liverpool a power of good, too, that Chelsea failed to put an obstacle in their path after 19 minutes.
Facing a free-kick from 30 yards out on the visitors’ right wing, Hiddink’s men concentrated all their resources in the middle, with the goalkeeper Petr Cech moving into that area. A large space was exposed and the full-back Fabio Aurelio found it with his left-footed shot from the set-piece. The absence of Terry was more harmful to Chelsea than had been anticipated.
Procedures went awry once more for Liverpool’s second goal. Aurelio again delivered a free-kick from the Liverpool right. It was directed towards Martin Skrtel, but the Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo saw Branislav Ivanovic, the scorer of two goals at Anfield, fouling Xabi Alonso. It is the sort of offence that is either ignored or missed entirely by officials. Cantalejo correctly awarded a penalty that was converted powerfully by Alonso after 28 minutes.
Chelsea had an appeal of their own, but the referee was not persuaded that Jamie Carragher had brought down Ivanovic. Chelsea looked baffled and weak. Hiddink had to react, adopting a positive stance by bringing on a recognised goalscorer in Anelka for Salomon Kalou. That had no immediate impact and Chelsea reeled, particularly when their manifestly unnerved goalkeeper mishandled on the verge of the interval.
The records showed no team had come here and scored three times in a victory since Arsenal’s 3-1 success in an FA Cup replay six years ago. Liverpool, as oblivious to Gerrard’s absence as they had been in the 4-0 rout of Blackburn at the weekend, were hardly dwelling on that aspect of the past when their sense of anticipation was climbing steeply.
Cech continued to encourage them, charging from his box in pursuit of a ball he could never reach. With the Czech stranded, Aurelio’s long cross from the left drifted out of play. The relief for a disoriented goalkeeper came with a lapse by his opposite number, Pepe Reina. Anelka crossed low from the right and although the delivery brushed against Drogba it was bewildering the Spaniard should push the ball into his own net. The blunder devastated Liverpool and elevated Chelsea, who were quick to resume the command of the tie. They struck twice with two brutally struck set-pieces from central positions through Drogba and Alex.
Chelsea were level and 5-3 ahead on aggregate. It had become one of those nights when a match has a mind of its own. The issue seemed to have been settled with 14 minutes left as Lampard scored from close range. But then, amazingly, Lucas and Kuyt both scored to give Liverpool renewed hope before Lampard finally ended their dreams. Guardian Service
CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Anelka 36), Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 90). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mikel, Deco, Belletti, Mancienne. Booked: Ivanovic, Carvalho, Ashley Cole.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Arbeloa (Babel 85), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Mascherano (Riera 69), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 80), Benayoun. Subs Not Used : Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger. Booked: Benayoun, Arbeloa.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
