Chelsea 2-0 PSG - He who dares wins!
Chelsea beat PSG 2-0 on the night, making it 3-3 on aggregate and advanced through to the Champions League Semi Finals once again with go...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2014/04/chelsea-2-0-psg-he-who-dares-wins.html
Chelsea beat PSG 2-0 on the night, making it 3-3 on aggregate and advanced through to the Champions League Semi Finals once again with goals from Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba!
There is just something about this club, something about this competition and something that happens when these two come together. Add to that Jose Mourinho and this competition and you have to wonder just how far Chelsea will go this season!
Everything was against us ahead of the game, the media and the press had doubted whether or not Chelsea were still up for the fight, whether we had the ammunition to compete with PSG and whether the old guard could lead this new, young Chelsea team into yet another momentous night at Stamford Bridge.
Watching the pre match build up, it was all about PSG and how many goals they would score, despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing the game through injury. Could Edinson Cavani step up and fill his shoes? The press would have you believe he would. Sitting here now, Cavani and his team mates failed to score or take the chances they created and will watch the rest of the competition on the Television!
Even during the opening stages of the game it seemed that things were going against us as Eden Hazard limped off with a calf injury and was replaced by Andre Schurrle. It seemed that Chelsea were right up against it.
Being honest, half hour into the game, it looked like a tall order as we failed to create anything of real note with both sides looking to press and probe but offering little.
That all changed from a set piece down the Chelsea right. Ivanovic's throw into the box was flicked on by David Luiz and there was Andre Schurrle, totally unmarked to place his first time shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 Chelsea and 2-3 on aggregate.
Chelsea had another chance late on in the first half from another set piece but failed to take advantage. As the cross came over, Gary Cahill jumped and challenged for the ball and the rebound fell straight to his feet as he landed. He just didn't have enough time to set himself and couldn't connect with his half volley well enough and sliced the ball high and wide from just 12 yards out!. Half time 1-0 Chelsea.
The second half started and there were no team changes. Chelsea just needed one more goal to go through. However and once again, possession was shared as both clubs looked to counter attack. As time moved on, Chelsea came the closest to scoring as both Andre Schurrle and Oscar hit the crossbar with two efforts from outside the box!
Again, PSG are looking to contain and to counter and at times they succeed but anything around the box was mopped up by our imperious back four!
Chelsea begin to dominate possession now and look to get in behind PSG. The visitors drop deeper and deeper and make life difficult for us. 60 minutes, 70 minutes go past and time begins to run out for Chelsea.
Changes are made, Lampard comes off for Demba Ba and then Torres comes on for Oscar as Jose Mourinho literally throws everything forward. David Luiz is asked to sit in front of the back four as everyone else ploughs forward!
It's a very dangerous game Mourinho plays but he literally has no other choice and on two occasions Edinson Cavani and PSG nearly make Chelsea pay the price.
The first is more of a half chance as wide left, Cavani brings the ball under control and fires high and wide from just outside the corner of the box.
The second looked like the clear cut chance of the two. Cabaye picks the ball up in midfield and Cavani spins off his man. Cabaye spots his run and puts the ball on a plate for Cavani who has beaten Ivanovic to the ball. As he moves towards the box and Cech sets himself, it looks like all he has to do is find the corner and we are in trouble!
Instead, Cavani for the second time in about five minutes blasts the ball just over the bar and fails to make Cech work. A lucky escape for Chelsea but these are the chances we have to take.
As we move into the final ten minutes Chelsea are dominating possession and David Luiz is everywhere, winning possession and picking his passes. Again though, Chelsea still can't create a clear cut chance. Some half chances are made but they are easy for the PSG keeper to deal with.
On 87 minutes Stamford Bridge comes alive. The ball is played high into the box and Torres goes up to challenge. The ball comes to Eto'o who spins and shoots but it's blocked. The ball comes out to Cesar Azpilicueta who shoots from 35 yards and the ball is deflected off the defender and into the path of Demba Ba under pressure from his marker, dead centre just eight yards from goal.
Ba holds off the challenge and flicks the ball over the Goalkeeper and high into the net to make it 2-0 Chelsea and now 3-3 on aggregate! Chelsea have just three minutes plus added time to see it through!
Jose Mourinho legs it down the touchline as it seems he is about to join the players celebrations for the goal by the corner flag but he proves us all wrong as he becomes the coolest head in the stadium. He picks up the players one by one and gives them their instructions to defend the lead in the final minutes.
So here it is, with four minutes added time PSG are swarming forward as Alex pushes up front now. PSG dominate the ball as we drop deep and Demba Ba finds himself as a holding midfielder in front of the back four.
Corner after corner comes in and they are cleared but PSG continue to press. Then, Petr Cech springs into life and makes two saves to make up for the three goals last week to take us through!
First he saves low down from a half cleared corner and second he saves low down at his near post to push the ball wide for yet another corner that ends up being cleared once again!
With that, the final whistle blows and Chelsea have done it! What is it about this place on these big European nights? It's something special!
To a man Chelsea were fantastic. David Luiz and Willian were everywhere, Our back four immense, Petr Cech composed and saved us when we needed him to and everyone else played their part.
This football club refuses to lie down, to give up and will just not let go in the Champions League and we are through to our seventh semi-final in eleven seasons which is just amazing.
We sit and wait until Friday for the draw but at this stage I don't care who we get because they will not want to face Jose Mourinho and this Chelsea team!
Amazing night, amazing fight, desire and determination from all the players. He who dares wins and Chelsea dared and won!
With Ivo suspended (on yellows), let's hope Cole is ready and in a fighting mood for the next match. He and Azpi will be put to quite the test by any of the other remaining teams.
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