Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-1)

Was this the hard luck story, to beat all hard luck stories, as Iniesta's strike deep into extra time, cruelly sealed Chelsea's fate? How they would have loved to have met Manchester United in Italy, to make it an all English final, but it was not to be, and it is Barcelona who will meet the Premier League champions in Rome.

It had seemed that Michael Essien's 20 yard pile-driver after 9 minutes would see Chelsea through. But a game is never finished until the final whistle is blown, and Chelsea succumbed, to what in boxing terms, might be called a sucker punch. That is to get knocked out at the end of a gruelling match, when a points win had seemed to be a formality.

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Unfortunately it was all too much for Didier Drogba, who had been substituted and was on the sidelines due to injury. Amid ugly scenes, he continuously harassed the referee, in an unedifying spectacle. His disappointment was understandable, but this sort of treatment of officials cannot be tolerated, and a suitable punishment will need to follow.

It must have been extremely disappointing for Chelsea who had four penalty appeals dismissed. Until the dying seconds they had defended brilliantly, but in the end it's goals that count, with a distinct advantage for those scored away from home. It must be said that Drogba had his chances to score, but failed to do so. That may have been part of the reason for his later tantrums. He thought he was on the receiving end of some bad refereeing decisions, but despite being supported by Anelka again up front, he didn't get that crucial goal that could have won the day for Chelsea.

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Barcelona, were reduced to ten men after 65 minutes, when Abidail was sent off after tangling with Anelka. If their was a time to add to Essien's goal and put the game beyond dispute, it was against the condensed opposition. As it happened, it appeared that Chelsea had held on, in spite of controversial refereeing decisions. But, time had not been called and Iniesta took advantage, to deliver the cruellest of blows. Chelsea were on the canvas, and it was too late to recover.

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Champions League Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
soccer and football
Champions League Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona