Barca makes Champions League final as Iniesta's injury-time goal sinks Chelsea
Barca makes Champions League final as Iniesta's injury-time goal sinks Chelsea
Chelsea suffered Champions League heartbreak after Andres Iniesta's stunning late leveller gave Barcelona a 1-1 draw to take them through on away goals.
Michael Essien's opener looked like giving Guus Hiddink's men a path to the final in Rome to face Manchester United - and they had chances and huge penalty appeals turned down in search of the second goal that would have settled the last-four clash.
The Spanish giants had Eric Abidal sent off but stayed within touching distance of Chelsea, then Iniesta found the top corner to spark manic celebrations.
At the final whistle, Chelsea's players confronted referee Tom Ovrebo, who had waved away at least four penalty appeals during the game.
It had all looked so promising for Chelsea when Essien, who missed six months of the season while he recovered from a serious knee ligament injury, dispatched a 20-yard volley beyond the despairing Victor Valdes. Frank Lampard's attempted cross cannoned off Yaya Toure and Essien dispatched his volley into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Barca were rocking now and a catalogue of fouls by Dani Alves was finally punished with a yellow card when he brought down Ashley Cole. It meant the full-back was out of the final. But Ovrebo waved away penalty appeals from Chelsea when Drogba, a colossus in attack all night, was brought down by Eric Abidal.
The second half promised more drama and it did not disappoint. Drogba missed a gilt-edged chance when Florent Malouda and Anelka put the Ivorian clear in the 52nd minute. Somehow, Valdes got a foot to his shot to keep Barca's hopes alive.
But the Catalans were in deep trouble in the 65th minute when Abidal brought down the free-running Anelka and, as the last defender, was shown the red card.
Chelsea's heroes had fought for every ball as if their lives depended on it but they allowed Iniesta too much room and, when he beat Cech from 20 yards in the 93rd minute, chaos descended on Stamford Bridge.
But there was still time for more drama when Michael Ballack's goalbound effort seemed to hit a defender's arm only for Ovrebo to wave away more appeals. Ballack was shown the yellow card for protesting and, when the final whistle sounded, Barca celebrated in unbridled fashion while Chelsea's players began their attacks on Ovrebo.
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