Trouble at Stamford Bridge

What a semi final it turned out to be at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Barcelona. After a pretty boring 0-0 draw last week in Spain, this tie turned out to a very entertaining affair. Chelsea took the lead in the 9th minute through a spectacular Michael Essien volley, soon after they had a clear penalty appeal turned down when Malouda appeared to be taken down in the box. In the second half, Drogba appeals for a penalty when the ball clearly strikes Pique's hand, before Abidal sees a red card for taking down Anelka just outside the area. With 10 men Barcelona continued to try find a way through only to see a wall of Chelsea players each and everytime. In the 90th minute, Barcelona had NO SHOTS ON GOAL, and with 10 men Chelsea are on the way to Rome, right? Wrong! Iniesta scored a screamer deep into inury time when the ball was fed to him at the top of the box. The away goal sent Barcelona through to the Champions League final where they will play Manchester United.

After the game, all hell broke lose. After Barcelona had scored, Chelsea sent everyone forward and had another clear penalty appeal turned down when Michael Ballack's rocket clearly hit a Barcelona defenders arm. The ball was cleared, but Michael Ballack had alot to say about the referee's decision to not call a penalty. Chasing the referee, he clearly threw his arms around the official, screaming at him. When the final whistle went, Didier Drogba who had been subbed in the second half, had to held back from the official, Ovrebo, as the Chelsea striker shouted into a television camera: ‘Are you watching this? It is a f****** disgrace.’Drogba, sent off against United in last year’s final defeat in Moscow, had to be restrained by manager Guus Hiddink before storming off to the dressing room.

Also See:
Chelsea vs Barcelona statistics
Manchester United Win Premier League