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Chelsea snatch place in semi-finals thanks to last-gasp Demba Ba goal Chelsea snatch place in semi-finals thanks to last-gasp Demba Ba goal
(35 minutes later)
This is not the first time Chelsea have reminded us of their durability, but there is still something remarkable about the way this team just never give up. They put everything into this match, never relinquishing their self-belief – and that competitive courage resulted here in that euphoric moment when everything came together and José Mourinho could be seen haring down the touchline on one of his victory runs extraordinaire. This is not the first time Chelsea have reminded us of their durability, but there is still something remarkable about the way this team just never give up. They put everything into this match, never relinquishing their self-belief – and that competitive courage resulted in that euphoric moment when everything came together and José Mourinho could be seen haring down the touchline on one of his victory runs extraordinaire.
He first treated us to one of those fist-pumping sprints when Porto knocked out Manchester United back in the days before he had announced himself as the Special One. Mourinho has never lost a quarter-final in this competition and that record was perilously under threat before Demba Ba, the forgotten man, poked out one of his long legs to scramble in the killer goal three minutes from the end.He first treated us to one of those fist-pumping sprints when Porto knocked out Manchester United back in the days before he had announced himself as the Special One. Mourinho has never lost a quarter-final in this competition and that record was perilously under threat before Demba Ba, the forgotten man, poked out one of his long legs to scramble in the killer goal three minutes from the end.
Ba was an improbable hero but nobody could dispute that Chelsea deserved to progress for displaying such powers of endurance. This was only the second time in 111 games that PSG had been beaten by two goals, in a sequence stretching back to March 2012. Chelsea had a 3-1 deficit to recover from the first leg in Parc des Princes and their opponents arrived on the back of a club-record 11 match winning run, with only one occasion in their previous 46 games when they had failed to score. Ba was an improbable hero but nobody could dispute that Chelsea deserved to progress for displaying such powers of endurance. This was only the second time in 111 games that PSG had been beaten by two goals, in a sequence stretching back to March 2012. Chelsea had a 3-1 deficit to recover from the first leg at Parc des Princes and their opponents arrived on the back of a club-record, 11-match winning run, with only one occasion in their previous 46 games when they had failed to score.
Yet Chelsea have made a habit of wearing down more refined opponents. André Schürrle's 32nd minute goal changed the entire complexion of the tie and, after that, the manner in which PSG wilted suggests one of Europe's nouveaux riches still have a lot to learn at this level. Yet Chelsea have made a habit of wearing down more refined opponents. André Schürrle's 32nd-minute goal changed the entire complexion of the tie and after that, the manner in which PSG wilted suggests one of Europe's nouveaux riches still have a lot to learn at this level.
Quick to the ball, strong in the challenge, it was Chelsea's tempo more than anything else that was so unsettling for their opponents. Mourinho's team did not play with balletic grace but their intensity of play was relentlessly impressive in the last hour of the match. They ran for everything and if they did lose the ball they quickly hunted it back down. They also hit the crossbar twice in a chaotic second half. PSG were simply worn down, just like Napoli were two years ago, and a few others, too.Quick to the ball, strong in the challenge, it was Chelsea's tempo more than anything else that was so unsettling for their opponents. Mourinho's team did not play with balletic grace but their intensity of play was relentlessly impressive in the last hour of the match. They ran for everything and if they did lose the ball they quickly hunted it back down. They also hit the crossbar twice in a chaotic second half. PSG were simply worn down, just like Napoli were two years ago, and a few others, too.
The champions of Ligue 1 undoubtedly missed the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic but it is not as if Chelsea were particularly blessed on the attacking front either. They started the match with Samuel Eto'o up front, even though he was still troubled by the hamstring injury that kept him out of the game in Paris.The champions of Ligue 1 undoubtedly missed the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic but it is not as if Chelsea were particularly blessed on the attacking front either. They started the match with Samuel Eto'o up front, even though he was still troubled by the hamstring injury that kept him out of the game in Paris.
Eden Hazard lasted only 18 minutes before he was forced off with a calf injury and, at that stage, there was little sense of the drama that was to follow. Chelsea had huffed and puffed through the opening stages and it is never a good sign when Mourinho's hands are firmly embedded in his tracksuit pockets. Eden Hazard lasted only 18 minutes before he was forced off with a calf injury and at that stage there was little sense of the drama that was to follow. Chelsea had huffed and puffed through the opening stages and it is never a good sign when Mourinho's hands are firmly embedded in his tracksuit pockets.
He gambled at the end, largely because he had no choice. Ba was the first Chelsea striker to come off the bench to join Eto'o and, as Mourinho said afterwards, maybe being selected ahead of Fernando Torres gave the former Newcastle player the belief that "he did not have No3 striker on his back." He gambled at the end, largely because he had no choice. Ba was the first Chelsea striker to come off the bench to join Eto'o and, as Mourinho said afterwards, maybe being selected ahead of Fernando Torres gave the former Newcastle player the belief that "he did not have No3 striker on his back".
Torres followed him on to the pitch a bit later, and Chelsea's urgent need for a goal made it inevitable they would leave gaps in their own defence. Fortunately for them, Edinson Cavani is not the same rampager who used to terrorise defences for Napoli. His chances were squandered, and then the moment arrived that will add this game to the list of great European nights at Stamford Bridge.Torres followed him on to the pitch a bit later, and Chelsea's urgent need for a goal made it inevitable they would leave gaps in their own defence. Fortunately for them, Edinson Cavani is not the same rampager who used to terrorise defences for Napoli. His chances were squandered, and then the moment arrived that will add this game to the list of great European nights at Stamford Bridge.
César Azpilicueta had advanced from his left-back spot. His shot was hopeful more than anything, but the ball took two slight deflections. The last ricochet fell kindly for Ba and he had anticipated getting the run of the ball, flying in for the poacher's goal. Mourinho was off, charging down the touchline, but still working out his strategy. Even amid the euphoria, he could be seen passing instructions to his players. Torres was told to man-mark Maxwell while Ba was ordered back into defence. It was classic Mourinho, always thinking. César Azpilicueta had advanced from his left-back spot. His shot was hopeful more than anything, but the ball took two slight deflections. The last ricochet fell kindly for Ba and he had anticipated getting the run of the ball, flying in for the poacher's goal.
If the finest moment of Ba's Chelsea career had not arrived, then Mourinho would otherwise have been left to reflect on the chance Gary Cahill passed up shortly after the opening goal, plus a wild 90 second spell early in the second half when Schürrle thudded a shot against the crossbar and Oscar did the same from a free-kick 25 yards out. Mourinho was off, charging down the touchline, but still working out his strategy. Even amid the euphoria, he could be seen passing instructions to his players. Torres was told to man-mark Maxwell while Ba was ordered back into defence. It was classic Mourinho, always thinking.
If the finest moment of Ba's Chelsea career had not arrived, then Mourinho would otherwise have been left to reflect on the chance Gary Cahill passed up shortly after the opening goal, plus a wild 90-second spell early in the second half when Schürrle thudded a shot against the crossbar and Oscar did the same from a free-kick 25 yards out.
Instead there was still time, with four minutes added on, for some nerve-shredding moments at the other end. Yet Chelsea defended throughout with great togetherness and vigour, and Petr Cech, who was fallible in the first leg, played with much of his old assurance.Instead there was still time, with four minutes added on, for some nerve-shredding moments at the other end. Yet Chelsea defended throughout with great togetherness and vigour, and Petr Cech, who was fallible in the first leg, played with much of his old assurance.
PSG, in stark contrast, had looked fallible when put under pressure to high balls in defence. Schürrle's goal was a case in point, emanating from the kind of long throw-in and flick-on routine that is not often seen at this level. Branislav Ivanovic was the man hurling the ball into the penalty area, then David Luiz applied the first touch in front of Thiago Silva and Schürrle ghosted in from behind to side-foot his shot inside the post. PSG, in stark contrast, had looked fallible when put under pressure to high balls in defence. Schürrle's goal was a case in point, emanating from the kind of long throw-in and flick-on routine that is not often seen at this level.
Branislav Ivanovic was the man hurling the ball into the penalty area, then David Luiz applied the first touch in front of Thiago Silva and Schürrle ghosted in from behind to sidefoot his shot inside a post.
Ivanovic would later collect a yellow card that rules him out of the first leg of the semi-final, but Mourinho was correct with his assessment of the last four. Any team that draw Chelsea, he said, will know they are encountering a team with "a special spirit".Ivanovic would later collect a yellow card that rules him out of the first leg of the semi-final, but Mourinho was correct with his assessment of the last four. Any team that draw Chelsea, he said, will know they are encountering a team with "a special spirit".