Chelsea FC secured their fourth UEFA Champions League semi-final berth in five seasons, thanks to goals from Michael Ballack and then Frank Lampard's with three minutes remaining against Fenerbahçe SK.
This is the third time in four years, Chelsea and Liverpool have achieved English for the past four of the competition, but it is increasingly belief in Stamford Bridge that could ultimately prove to be the year of Chelsea.
Chelsea's desire to eradicate their goal of a disadvantage was evident from the outset, and they had a huge lift in the fourth minute when Ballack put them at the aggregate level. A free kick from Lampard found the Fenerbahce dreaming and defense Germany captain glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.
But in the 25th minute, Chelsea's Kazakhstan crisis plunged to new depths when Cudicini reported to the bench that he could not continue, and came on Hilario. Fenerbahce took the opportunity to try to unnerve the Portuguese four minutes later when Semih Senturk sent to 20 yards wide only to drive his right hand upright.
But Chelsea wrapped the tie-up with three minutes of normal time remaining when Michael Essien cross of the house has been transformed by Lampard from close range. However, some of the gloss was taken off their victory when Essien has shown a yellow
card - a crime that it rules out of the first leg against Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Chelsea struck the icon of the house for nearly you to death after Michael Ballack gave the Blues the lead from the outset, heading home a free kick which was flighted by Lampard himself.
The Blues have a good value for their win on two legs, but has received a lot of criticism following their loss of Turkey and their inability to produce screens quite as dominants that are expected by the fans and the media.
Lampard has brought honour to their quarterfinal opponents, but he insisted there is more to come from his side, as they now face Liverpool, surprisingly, for the third time in four years in Champions League semi-finals.
"It was difficult, credit to Fenerbahce they made it very difficult for us and has a chance," admitted Lampard.(*)
photo: GettyImages source: soccermanguni
Again, Chelsea Meet Liverpool
Chelsea force to seek their fortress
The stunned looks on the faces of players Chelsea at the end of the time on Wednesday night all said, 'how the hell did we lose that one? "The Blues became the latest big name to suffer a defeat off-day at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, but in truth, this was a game that they dominated for more than an hour.
The objective (Deivid turning point in his own net) was fortunate, but Chelsea should have converted most of their opportunities before the end of the capitulation. Yet all is not lost. Conviction seems to remain in the camp at Stamford Bridge and the Blues showed no ill effects of their European setback on Saturday night, thoroughly outplaying Manchester City to win 2-0 in the east.
Thanks to the United dropped points, the gap nationally is now only three points: Chelsea are convinced they still have two trophies to play for this season. In Europe lost 2-1 away from home may not be ideal, but it is far from being a disaster. A simple 1-0 victory will suffice and the Blues are more likely to chew victories like that.
Fenerbahçe will attack in search of a goal away, but in spite of setbacks last week the Blues have one of the toughest defenses around. Stamford Bridge is a veritable fortress and Chelsea found the net in 12 of their last 13 home games. Doing everything again with a clean sheet and they will reach their fourth Champions League semi-final in five years.(*)
Can Fenerbahçe keep the dream alive?
After a spectacular first leg in Istanbul and a lot of talk of the playground, there will be a few tens of resolve on Tuesday as Fenerbahçe travel to London to face Chelsea.
As is usually the case when clubs from three leagues face on one side besides, it tends to be a lot of understatement, certainly in the media.
But just as they shot Inter, CSKA Moscow, PSV Eindhoven and Seville at home this season in Champions League, in order to Zico Fenerbahçe been right Avram Grant's Chelsea last Wednesday evening. In the midst of one of the greatest atmospheres you will find anywhere in the European football, yellow Canaries overcome the failure of a first own goal to win the game thanks to strikes by Colin Kazim-Richards and Deivid .
Having been outplayed for much of the encounter, it was a tremendous result for the Turkish side, who once again proved their tenacity and ability to find the net through all kinds of channels. With a 2-1 advantage in this second category, the link is now Fenerbahçe's to lose.
A victory or draw will see them through to the semi-finals in style, while even a high score single goal defeat would ensure the victory through the rule of the gap goals. Anyway, Fenerbahçe know that their chances of progression increase significantly if they can find the bottom of the net - there is little chance to play for a 0-0 draw.
Away form in Europe has not been fantastic, but a large domestic form means confidence remains high. Yellow Canary fans certainly take a repeat of the 3-2 defeat in Seville far in the previous cycle - it is not necessary at this time penalty dramas. (*)
Mikel Warned Manchester United
John Obi Mikel has warned that Manchester United, Chelsea will benefit from any dropped points champions in the race for the first division title.
United were held to a draw at Middlesbrough 2-2 on Sunday to leave them only three points ahead of Chelsea, with five games remaining.
The Blues face United Stamford Bridge later in April and accepts that Mikel is likely to be an encounter defensive.
But the Nigerian midfielder does not believe United will win all their other games and he urged his teammates to keep up the pressure.
"Towards the end of the championship, we play United at Stamford Bridge," said Mikel.
"I think we are going to be the deciding game, so we have to take today as we wait for the big one."
Following the defeat last week to Fenerbahce in the Champions League, the former Chelsea player Mateja Kezman claimed that Blues "team spirit was not as strong as Avram Grant as she had been at Jose Mourinho was in charge. (*)
Fenerbahce upsets Chelsea
Deivid de Souza scored a late goal Wednesday to give Fenerbahce a 2-1 upset over Chelsea, and Liverpool got a crucial away goal in its 1-1 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Deivid gave Chelsea the lead with an own-goal in the 13th minute, but he then scored with a dramatic shot from distance in the 81st to give the Turkish team a win in its first appearance in the quarterfinals of Europe's top club competition.
Chelsea took the lead at Sukru Saracoglu stadium when Deivid deflected a cross from Florent Malouda into his own net. But Kazim Kazim equalized in the 65th by beating the offside trap and beating Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.(*)
source: iht