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Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (Chel. win 3-2 on agg): Ballack lives up to billing but Chelsea fail to shineBy Jason BurtWednesday, 9 April 2008
Just like the good old early Abramovich days at Stamford Bridge. A raucous European night and, on the final whistle, a rendition of "Kalinka", that popular Russian folk tune about a Slavic goddess and juniper berries that Chelsea used to play because they thought it pleased the club's owner.
But that is where the echoes end. There was no swagger and precious little drama as Chelsea – post Claudio Ranieri and post Jose Mourinho – reached their fourth Champions League semi-final in five years under their billionaire philanthropist.
This was no epic quarter-final, against a limited Fenerbahce, who failed to provide any real threat but ended up running Chelsea close. This was no touchline tussle between coaches of huge ability and greater ego.
And yet. And yet Chelsea, under Avram Grant, have now gone as far in this competition as the Doomed One, Ranieri, or the Special One, Mourinho, could ever take them. And who knows? A final in Moscow is the prize and maybe, just maybe, Grant, the assuming, over-promoted coach that he is, can be the man to fulfil his master's wishes. "Kalinka" will sing out again then even if Roman Abramovich is not, really, thought to be a great fan of the tune.
There were more songs last night with Fenerbahce, their 3,000 exuberant fans an impressive singing, dancing sea of yellow and black hope throughout, replying to Chelsea's celebrations with a taunt. "Liverpool, Liverpool," they sang, a reminder that Chelsea have fallen twice at the next stage to the opponents they now face.
There is a school of thought afoot about Grant. And it's one that, joke or no joke, claims that because he doesn't appear to know what he is doing at times then he's just the coach to out-manoeuvre a meticulous planner in Rafael Benitez, who appeared to have the sign over the equally meticulous Mourinho.
Certainly some of Grant's changes last night appeared a little odd and, for a while, he risked unbalancing his team so much that they almost permitted the Turkish champions back into the encounter. In the end there were two saves by Hilario, the stand-in goalkeeper, who emerged after Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first-half with a strained hamstring. To add to Petr Cech's facial injury, it means Chelsea are now down to their third-choice stopper. Hilario the hero? He was when he scooped out Gokhan Gonul's close-range shot and beat away Colin Kazim-Richards' long-range belter.
Neither stop was convincing but then it was in keeping with a Chelsea performance in which Michael Essien acquired the booking that means he will miss the first-leg of the semi-final. By the end Didier Drogba was falling theatrically to the turf and involving himself in arguments with opponents in an effort to waste time.
Chelsea over-turned last week's deficit but, after sweeping ahead through Michael Ballack's well-placed header, they really should have swept their opponents away. The way in which the German midfielder apparently effortlessly reached Frank Lampard's free-kick, in the fourth minute, again brought recollections of Mourinho's claim that here was a man who could win Chelsea the ultimate prize. And then, barely four minutes after that, Joe Cole smartly clipped Salomon Kalou's low cross only for his shot to ricochet against the post.
Chelsea had the momentum and they should have pressed on. Second and third goals should have followed but despite a rising shot from Drogba and three rapid breaks from Kalou, nothing happened. The loss of Cudicini may have been a factor but, then, surely not. Even so, Hilario's early involvements were to scramble after a first-time shot from Semih Senturk and then stand rooted as Lugano met Alex's free-kick. Unmarked, the central defender headed wide.
By now Chelsea were becoming progressively ragged. Twice more Drogba shot weakly from prime locations before a miscued clearance by Hilario nearly sent Deivid through. Ricardo Carvalho's rapid intervention snuffed out the threat. The lack of cohesion prompted Grant to withdraw Kalou. Suddenly Chelsea's formation appeared confused and Fenerbahce seized the initiative.
On came the former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman. Surely he wouldn't score? It appeared he would have a chance when, inside the area, Deivid headed towards him but, again, Carvalho was quick to the danger. It was becoming a little too nervy, a little too tense. It appeared self-inflicted. Ballack had warned that Chelsea were, at times, their own worst enemies, believing games were too easy and suffering because of it. It appeared this might, just, become another such occasion.
But soon after his caution, for dissent of all things, Essien made a positive contribution. He worked his way down the right, out-muscled the covering defender and slid the ball into the six-yard area where it was met by Lampard. The midfielder had endured a disappointing evening but he hammered the ball in from close range.
Even then a goal by Fenerbahce would have forced extra-time. They pushed on but, fortunately for Chelsea, didn't have the wherewithal to accomplish the task. Chelsea were through. The blue and white flags were waved aloft and the supporters could look to another semi-final and maybe, this time, the final itself. They will have to play better but that's been said all season and Chelsea could still achieve a unique double.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini (Hilario, 25); Essien, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard; Kalou (Belletti, 58), Drogba, J Cole (Malouda, 85). Substitutes not used: Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex, Anelka.
Fenerbahce (4-3-2-1): Volkan Demirel; Gokhan Gonul, Lugano, Edu, Gokcek Vederson (Bilgin, 89); Maldonado (Kezman, 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards; Deivid, Alex; Semih Senturk (Boral, 75). Substitutes not used: Serdar Kulbilge (gk), Yasin Cakmak, Onder Turaci, Selcuk Sahin.
Referee: H Fandel (Germany).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mail:
Ballack now the head boy: Chelsea in semi-finals as German nets earlyChelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 (agg 3-2)
By NEIL ASHTON
Michael Ballack, a Champions League runner-up with Bayer Leverkusen and a winner with Bayern Munich, has the look of a champion again.
Instrumental in last month's 3-0 victory over Olympiacos in the second round last month, Ballack's fourth-minute header secured Chelsea's place in this year's semi-final.
The German midfielder, increasing in influence with each passing week, was the difference between the teams against Fenerbahce as he dictated the tempo and, with it, the course of Chelsea's season.
Avram Grant's side were nervous, but only Liverpool now stand between them and a first appearance in the final.
The opposition in the last four will be better than anything Fenerbahce could offer last night, but their remarkable unbeaten home record, stretching back 68 games, could prove decisive.
They may have to rely on the rusty instincts of their third-choice goalkeeper Hilario, but there is a resilience about them, and their persistence paid off last night.
Just under 50,000 Fenerbahce fans helped bring Chelsea to their knees last week and they brought a little bit of their fanatical support with them to London, with over 4,000 fanatics making it to Stamford Bridge, dreaming of a place in the semi-final.
They deserved their moment in paradise, when goals from Colin Kazim-Richards and Deivid in last week's first leg gave Zico's side the advantage after a remarkable second-half fightback in Turkey.
They got a rude awakening last night. Chelsea were irresistible from the off, rivalling their awesome first half performance in Turkey last Wednesday and underlining it with a goal.
It came from Michael Ballack, beautiful in the first half last week and flaky after the break, after just four minutes.
Lampard scuttled over to the right to take Chelsea's first free-kick of the game and Ballack beat Mehmet Aurelio at the near post to turn the ball past goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.
That was almost as easy as it was last Wednesday, when Chelsea put in the best first-half shift under Avram Grant's leadership.
It is too soon to talk of a return to the golden years, when Gianfranco Zola would leave 40,000 Chelsea's supporters worshipping every elegant touch, flick with the outside of his boot and mesmerising move.
That was then and this is now — Chelsea, the refined long-ball team, powering their way towards the semi-finals of the European Cup for the fourth time in five years.
They believe, as they believe every year, that their time has come in this competition. The Big One — the date with destiny, the day when they can truly reach for the stars — has always eluded them over the last four years.
Moscow was the backdrop to this tense, often absorbing, second leg and, just in case Chelsea needed reminders of their targets, Roman Abramovich had made it to Stamford Bridge with the missus in tow.
He met Ballack's opening goal with an approving look, but Fenerbahce were not overawed.
Conceding a goal in the opening four minutes was not in Zico's gameplan, but keeping it tight after that certainly was.
They escaped when Didier Drogba's curled effort cleared the bar and were given hope when Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first half.
It was rotten luck for Grant, who lost Petr Cech for the rest of the season with a facial injury on Sunday.
Now Chelsea's fate is in Hilario's hands. The Portuguese keeper had not played for the first team since the first leg of the Carling Cup semifinal against Everton, but the stakes have been raised a bit since then.
Fenerbahce centre half Lugano nearly pulled out an ace when he rose above Chelsea's static defence to meet Alex's lofted free-kick, but he sent his header wide of Hilario's post.
Chelsea knew 1-0 would be enough to see them through, but Zico's side refused to panic.
They had Salomon Kalou sussed long before the break, sending him down blind alleys and looking for a chink of light themselves.
Semih Senturk, in for dropped miscreant Mateja Kezman up front, kept himself busy, chasing lost causes and creating a nuisance of himself.
Chelsea could not afford to relax. They did that in Turkey and look what happened then.
Drogba could have doubled Chelsea's lead at the start of the second half, swivelling inside the area after collecting Michael Essien's cross, but he sent his strike into Demirel's grateful arms.
Chelsea's nervous flag-waving fans were subdued, clock watching and counting down the minutes until Herbert Fandel signalled that they had made it through to the last four.
Essien was booked for throwing the ball away, meaning he will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final, but it was he who got to the byeline and crossed for Frank Lampard to secure Chelsea's last-four place with the second goal, tapped in from just three yards out. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:
Michael Ballack and Chelsea's familiar territoryBy John Ley at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (1) 2 Fenerbahce (0) 0Agg: 3-2
Another year, another semi-final. For the fourth time in five seasons, Chelsea reached the last four of the Champions League and they enjoyed some Turkish delight, albeit with two hardly impressive displays. At least it offers the club another - some would argue, their best - chance to finally claim their Holy Grail that is Europe's greatest domestic prize.
Michael Ballack, a losing finalist with Bayer Leverkusen against Real Madrid in the final of 2002, delivered the early, telling goal and, in the closing stages, with Fenerbahce desperately pressing for an equaliser, Frank Lampard added a second.
Ultimately, the hero of the tie was an unlikely one. With Petr Cech already out, second-choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini limped off early in the game and his replacement, Hilario made two stunning late saves to deliver Chelsea into the semi-final and a third meeting with Liverpool in four years. They will not require an incentive.
Ballack had warned, a day earlier, of the importance of making no mistakes, of starting well and the German did not disappoint. He has a habit of striking when the iron is hot, witnessed by his sixth-minute goal against Olympiakos in the previous round. And on a night of raw passion and stirring emotion, Ballack delivered again, his glancing header from Lampard's free-kick so perfectly placed that Volkan Demirel, the Fenerbahce goalkeeper, was left motionless on his line.
It was the perfect start and almost made better four minutes later when Salomon Kalou's probing run on the left offered Joe Cole a chance and he was thwarted only by the width of the left post.
Fenerbahce had dropped former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman to the bench and promoted Colin Kazim-Richards to the team after the former Bury, Brighton and Sheffield United striker had put a dent in Chelsea's European aspirations by scoring the equaliser in Istanbul last week.
That Chelsea had recovered in six of the previous 10 European ties in which they had trailed offered promising portents and Ballack's goal served to suggest another similar outcome.
Had Chelsea taken their chances in Istanbul, they would not have gone into this tie behind. This time they took advantage of their early dominance and Fenerbahce, once again backed by their wonderfully colourful and vociferous supporters, were visibly shaken by the set-back.
But, just when everything appeared to be going Chelsea's way the curse of the goalkeeper struck again. Just two days after Cech had undergone facial surgery on lacerations caused by a stray boot in training, his replacement, Cudicini, pulled his right hamstring with a long kick.
Immediately, the Italian knew he could continue no longer, meaning that Hilario, Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper, was thrust into the fray, with only 25 minutes played. Fenerbahce soon put pressure on his goal with Lugano delivering a 31st-minute header narrowly wide.
He does not play often but he has appeared this season, his last start coming against Everton in the Carling Cup in January. Fenerbahce soon put pressure on his goal with Lugano delivering a 31st-minute header narrowly wide.
Chelsea began the second half ahead but, as in Istanbul, they had failed to turn their advantage into goals. The away-goal advantage was hardly comforting so when, in the opening two minutes of the second half Kalou headed weakly and Didier Drogba directed a shot straight at Demirel, the portents for Chelsea were worrying.
With the tension evident, Chelsea called for experience in the shape of Juliano Belletti, for Kalou. Avram Grant's decision, with a defender on for a forward, was a calculated gamble. The fact that the Brazilian scored the winning goal for Barcelona in the 2006 final - against Arsenal - was not lost on the manager.
Fenerbahce responded by introducing Kezman and the intensity increased with both sides knowing that if there was to be another goal, in all probability, it would win the tie.
The end was both nervous and entertaining. Fenerbahce refused to surrender and when Gokhan Gonul prodded the ball forward, Hilario had to dive to his right to save. Seconds later the Portuguese made another tremendous save, from Kazim Kazim.
Before the end Michael Essien was cautioned and will miss the semi-final first leg, but the Ghana international made a lasting impression, his determination and cross from the right allowed Lampard a tap in to confirm Chelsea's place in the last four. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Times
April 9, 2008
Michael Ballack keeps his head as Chelsea march onMatt Hughes
Avram Grant’s mildly daunting job description is to win the Champions League while playing the best football on the planet. But Roman Abramovich may let him off the hook for the latter if he achieves the former.
Chelsea’s owner will certainly forgive and forget the grim grind of this chaotic quarter-final win if it leads to his “Blue Army” invading Moscow on May 21, but they must first establish mastery over the red half of Merseyside.
The first-team coach appeared ignorant of recent history when he had to be asked three times last night whether Chelsea could make it a case of third time lucky against Liverpool, but, for everyone else at the club, those two semi-final defeats remain a recurring nightmare. Even José Mourinho, the former manager, is still haunted by Luis García’s “ghost goal” three years ago, never mind last season’s penalty shoot-out exit.
It is fitting that Chelsea must beat Liverpool to secure passage to the Luzhniki Stadium because such an accomplishment would finally allow Grant to step out of the shadow of his predecessor. Abramovich has staked his reputation on the unlikely prospect of an ordinary boy surpassing the achievements of the Special One, but certain factors are in Grant’s favour.
Even the redoubtable John Terry admitted to being intimidated by the Anfield crowd 12 months ago, but it will be less potent in the first leg in a fortnight, with Chelsea enjoying the advantage of playing the decisive match at Stamford Bridge on April 30, although Liverpool’s biggest weapon could simply have been replaced by another, namely Fernando Torres.
Whatever happens, Grant has done enough to keep his job for another year because he has already matched Mourinho’s achievements in the Champions League and Barclays Premier League last season and could yet surpass them. The softly spoken Israeli is not one for making valedictory statements, but he was well within his rights to point out the progress that has been made since he was appointed in September. “I took over after a poor result against Rosenborg in the Champions League, with five teams ahead of us in the Premier League,” he said. “I said I believed we could do good things this season and we’re close.”
Grant was wise to resist crowing too loudly after a disjointed performance, however, as Fenerbahçe caused the odd moment of panic. Ironically, much of Chelsea’s play came from the Mourinho manual of winning ugly, only without the control. After Michael Ballack had gone some way to calming nerves with a fourth-minute header, Chelsea endured moments of anxiety, notably when Hilário, who replaced the injured Carlo Cuducini in the first half, was called on to make two smart saves in the 83rd minute, before Frank Lampard settled things with his eighteenth goal of the season four minutes later.
The England midfield player had had a poor game, but his goals remain priceless, something for the club to keep in mind when contract negotiations resume in the summer. Such was their frustration that many of the home fans turned on Didier Drogba midway through the second half because of his fitful finishing and reversion to the role of a “diving diva”. It was significant that Grant refused to defend him afterwards, suggesting that he is already preparing for life without the Ivory Coast striker next season. “People said before we couldn’t win without Drogba, but now we can,” he said.
Chelsea had begun with the same pace and purpose that they had produced in the first half in Istanbul, but again failed to sustain it, so it was just as well that they took an early lead. Lampard’s free kick from the right was met powerfully at the near post by Ballack, with the Germany captain rising imperiously above Edu for his sixth goal of a season that began only in December after a long-term injury.
With Ballack driving them forward, Chelsea briefly pushed for a second, but, other than a couple of speculative shots from Drogba and a drive by Joe Cole against the post, they created little of note.
Fenerbahçe were emboldened by the sight of Cudicini limping off with a hamstring injury in the 26th minute, presenting Hilário with a first Champions League appearance of the season that the Portuguese seemed unprepared for when he stood flat-footed as Lugano’s header flashed wide of the near post just before half-time. Although clearly jittery, Hilário stood firm when it mattered, making good saves from Gökhan Gönül and Colin Kazim-Richards in close succession.
Given his unease under the high ball, however, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, should give serious consideration to starting with Peter Crouch again if Hilário, the third choice, remains in goal in a fortnight. Chelsea will be hurt, too, by the absence of Michael Essien from the first leg after he was booked late on.
Given his supposed love for entertaining football, Abramovich may have wished he was at Anfield last night, although the Russian does have at least one reason to be pleased with himself. Since he bought the club, Chelsea have established themselves as the most consistent side in the Champions League, with four semi-final appearances in five years, but they must improve considerably to lift the trophy he craves above all others. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lampard's late show ensures Chelsea's safe passageDavid Hytner at Stamford BridgeWednesday April 9, 2008The Guardian
There were 67 minutes on the giant scoreboards last night when the Chelsea support voiced their solution to the increasingly nervous performance in front of them. "Attack, attack, attack" came the staccato chant.Avram Grant did not take the hint. The Chelsea manager seemed content to cling to the slender advantage that Michael Ballack's early header had given his team and, as Fenerbahce swept forward, Chelsea diced with their Champions League lives.
Had Henrique Hilario, on for the injured Carlo Cudicini, not smuggled the substitute Ugur Boral's volley past his post as Chelsea anxieties were at their height, or moments later beaten away Kazim Kazim's rasping drive from distance, it might have been Fenerbahce eyeing a semi-final date with Liverpool. Grant resolutely stuck with five in his midfield in the second half and when he withdrew Joe Cole the home crowd howled.In the event, however, Frank Lampard belatedly cut through the tension when he tapped home from Michael Essien's cross and Grant could savour the result, if not the serenity of the performance. Chelsea are in the last four of Europe's elite competition for the fourth time in five years and facing familiar foes. Might Grant yet succeed where his predecessor Jose Mourinho failed and plot a path past Liverpool and into the final?
Grant's team had made the perfect start, Ballack glancing in Lampard's free-kick after only four minutes. It was the German's sixth goal since returning to the side in December. Having had the chance to kill the tie in the first leg, after also fashioning an early goal, the expectation was that Chelsea would do so this time. Joe Cole struck the inside of the post, Ballack forced Volkan Demirel to save and a sign of Chelsea's early dominance was the sight of Alex, the Fenerbahce captain, dropping from his withdrawn attacking role into defensive midfield to search for possession. Didier Drogba, on one of his infuriating nights, twice went close in the first half, and had further chances in the second.
Yet slowly Fenerbahce gained a foothold. They might only have threatened in the first half when Lugano rose unchecked to head Alex's free-kick wastefully wide but, the longer the second half wore on, the more it appeared that Chelsea were skating on thin ice.
Grant's preservation instincts took hold. When Salomon Kalou was forced off with a knock just before the hour, the Israeli sent on the right-back Juliano Belletti and moved Essien, who had filled the defensive position, further forward. Not by much, though. Essien was asked to hold the right flank and, with Joe Cole on the left and three midfielders bunched tightly in the centre, Drogba cut an isolated figure up front.
The Fenerbahce manager, Zico, promptly sent on Mateja Kezman, the former Chelsea striker, for Claudio Maldonado, the defensive midfielder. His second change provided fresh width on the left, in the shape of Ugur Boral. Fenerbahce sensed their moment.
Lugano watched his shot take a deflection and, with Hilario rooted, Chelsea hearts all around the ground skipped as the ball wriggled wide. There was more to come. An unholy scramble inside Hilario's area was hacked to safety and then came the efforts from Ugur Boral and Kazim. Hilario's save from Ugur Boral might have been unorthodox, as he scrambled frantically across his line, but it was highly effective.
Grant accepted that his tactics had invited Fenerbahce forward and offered them the initiative, and, although he was quite correct to praise his defenders, he could be accused of having only one eye on the game when he claimed that Fenerbahce did not create any chances.
Ultimately, though, nobody could dispute that the result was all-important. Grant might be failing to deliver on his promise of exciting football, after the functional thrills of the Jose Mourinho years, but his record, the cold, hard currency of results, bears scrutiny.
Progress came at a cost. With Petr Cech out for at least two weeks with his facial injury, the last thing Grant needed was Carlo Cudicini to pull up midway through the first half with a hamstring injury, which looked serious. Hilario, the third-choice goalkeeper, bounded on and, though his kicking was unconvincing and there were nervy moments in his defence, he emerged with credit. Grant will rely on him and the youngster Rhys Taylor over the next couple of weeks as Chelsea attempt to close on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
Grant also lost Essien for the first leg of the semi-final at Anfield, after he was needlessly booked late on to incur a suspension for throwing the ball down in frustration. Chelsea got there in the end and nobody will dispute that they were the better team over the two legs. And there will be no complaints about his methods if Grant can break the cycle of despair against Liverpool.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mirror :
BALLACK & LAMPS GRANT A SENSE OF DEJA BLUE
CHELSEA 2 FENERBAHCE 0 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG, STAMFORD BRIDGE:CHELSEA WIN 3-2 ON AGG By Martin Lipton
Avram Grant lived to fight another day at Stamford Bridge last night - but if he has any fingernails left, the Israeli was probably the only one in SW6.
Michael Ballack's fourth-minute header and a late strike from Frank Lampard turned out to be just enough for the jittery Blues as they put their fans through the emotional wringer before claiming a third semi-final against Liverpool in four years.
The German was on the spot to nod home Lampard's free-kick and two minutes from time the England midfielder's 18th of the season from a Michael Essien cross killed off the Turks.
It gives Grant the chance to do what Jose Mourinho could not - beat Rafa Benitez to take his side through to the biggest prize in club football.
But without two sensational late saves by third-choice keeper Hilario, brought on when Petr Cech's deputy, Carlo Cudicini limped off midway through the first half, Chelsea would not have had the platform for Lampard's killer moment, as Grant just did enough.
Ballack's opener came after Joe Cole, impish and determined, was brought down wide on the right. When Lampard played in the ball to the edge of the six yard box, Ballack stole in front of marker Mehmet Aurelio to glance home a header.
Ballack was ecstatic, the Bridge on fire, and with Fenerbahce once again all over the place at the back, Chelsea looked to finish off the tie.
Essien, fit after a back scare, was blasting down the right while Salomon Kalou did a similar job on the other flank and when he destroyed Gokhan Gonul in the eighth minute, Joe Cole toe-poked against the post.
Ballack, a study in perpetual motion, was the next to strike for goal as he brought keeper Volkan Demirel to his knees to gather, before Didier Drogba curled his effort inches too high. First-leg match-winner Deivid headed wide for the Turks before Cudicini's hamstring twanged, which forced Grant to send on Hilario.
Suddenly, it was all getting twitchy as Fenerbahce sensed the nervousness and when centre-half Lugano rose unchallenged to meet a free-kick by skipper Alex, he should have done far better that head tamely wie.
Drogba, after linking with Cole, tested Volkan once more, yet with the Turks growing in confidence, Chelsea desperately needed to chisel out a second. Kalou had the opportunity to do so after a surging run down the left but after taking Lampard's return ball, his shot was horribly weak.
Grant had to pitch it right at the break and his side came out with the required attitude, Drogba spinning onto Cole's ball inside to shoot left-footed straight at Volkan.
Cole was seeing plenty of the ball, while Essien galloped up in support, yet the killer pass was not quite there and the nerve ends began to be exposed.
The England man, released by Lampard, almost picked out Kalou before Volkan bravely dropped on the ball at Ballack's feet after neat work by Drogba.
Both managers then made changes, Juliano Belletti replacing Kalou while Zico sent on former Chelsea player Mateja Kezman as the tension was raised another notch, the home side aware one mistake could be fatal.
With the crowd demanding more and the anxiety levels reaching a peak, they needed John Terry to stand tall with a couple of vital clearances in front of Hilario.
It was desperate stuff at times, as the ball zig-zagged through the Chelsea box, although Drogba's free-kick brought a superb stop from Volkan. But without Hilario's two brilliant saves to deny first Gokhan Gunol and then Colin Kazim-Richards, Lampard's close-range finish would only have meant extra-time. That's how close it was.
Chelsea: Cudicini (Hilario, 26), Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, J Cole (Malouda, 86), Drogba, Kalou (Belletti, 58).
Fenerbahce: Demirel, Gonul, Lugano, Edu, Wederson (Bilgin, 90), Maldonado (Kezman, 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards, Deivid, Alex, Senturk (Ugur, 75).
CHELSEA V FENERBAHCE
BLUES EDGE IT BUT STUTTER
BALL POSSESSION
CHELSEA 52%
FENERBAHCE 48%
FACE TO FACE
3 Corners 1
4 Offside 1
73% Pass completion 78%
31 Tackles 23
19 Fouls 19
2 Cards 0
5 SHOTS 5
off target 9
on target 2
MAN OF THE MATCH
Michael Ballack (CHELSEA) 7
VILLAIN OF THE MATCH
Gokhan Gonul (FENERBAHCE) 5
ANORAK
Chelsea have only lost once at the Bridge in the last 26 Champions League games
Chelsea's last 10 in Champions League
Before last night, Chelsea had only won four of their last ten games in the Champions League
April 2, 2008: Fenerbahce (a) L1-2
Mar 5, 2008: Olympiakos (h) W3-0
Feb 19 2008: Olympiakos (a) D0-0
Dec 11, 2007: Valencia (h) D 0-0
Nov 28, 2007: Rosenborg (a) W4-0
Nov 6, 2007: Schalke 04 (a) D 0-0
Oct 24, 2007: Schalke 04 (h) W2-0
Oct 3, 2008: Valencia (a) W2-1
Sep 18, 2007: Rosenborg (h) D1-1
May 1, 2007: Chelsea (h) W1-0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun:
IAN McGARRY (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
AVRAM GRANT has the chance to do what Jose Mourinho couldn’t — beat Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final.
The Premier League is now guaranteed one team in the final in Moscow on May 21.
And Grant will be desperate to give the Blues their revenge over Rafa Benitez’s Reds.
Midfield ace Frank Lampard has twice felt the pain of of semi-final defeats by Liverpool in the last three years.
So when he tapped in the goal against Fenerbahce, you could understand his delight.
He wheeled away to celebrate his 87th-minute strike and you could forgive him a brief look up to the stadium scoreboard.
There in big letters Chelsea’s destiny was confirmed in the scoreline from Anfield: Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2.
Lampard, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba are the men who most feel they have a score to settle with Liverpool following Luis Garcia’s controversial goal in 2005 then last season’s penalty shootout heartbreak.
But Chelsea will have to up their game on this showing.
They made heavy weather of a contest last night, again failing to kill off rivals.
In the first leg in Turkey, Drogba was guilty of wasting possession and chances as Blues lost 2-1.
But the Ivory Coast striker was out to prove a point and got stuck into the Fenerbahce defence. After four minutes he forced Vederson into conceding a free-kick on the left of the penalty box.
Lampard, making a club record 51st Champions League appearance, flighted a perfect cross to the six-yard area and Ballack headed precisely into the far corner.
For Chelsea it was better than just a draw at that point. Their away goal — scored by Fenerbahce’s Deivid — already had them in the semi-final if the score were to remain the same.
Zico’s Turkish side started the contest just as nervously as they had at home a week previously. They gave the ball away cheaply and in dangerous areas making Chelsea look like world beaters without having to try too hard.
And Chelsea should have doubled their advantage after eight minutes when Salomon Kalou wriggled free of his marker and neatly cut back to Joe Cole.
The England midfielder was equally cute to dink his shot to Volkan’s near post but it wasn’t quite enough and the ball rebounded off the upright. Chelsea were rampant and Ballack moved unchallenged across the 18-yard line and his reverse pass almost put Lampard in.
As the game wore on Fenerbahce realised the tie was there for the taking though.
Brazilian playmaker Alex found Deivid in the box but his header was woefully wide of the target.
After the freak injury sustained by Petr Cech in training on Sunday, Grant must have thought that was it for bad luck with keepers. But Carlo Cudicini strained a thigh muscle while taking a goal kick in the 26th minute and signalled to the bench he could not go on.
Cue Portuguese keeper Hilario. He looked sluggish when Lugano’s header grazed his post in the first half but twice in the last 15 minutes he made brilliant stops to keep his side in the tie.
Without the safety net of a second goal, Chelsea looked uncomfortable.
Lampard threaded a through-ball to Joe Cole whose cross beat everyone except Kalou who was then chased to the corner flag by the keeper.
Clearly anxious, Grant changed his formation by taking off Kalou and bringing on Juliano Belletti at right-back which allowed Essien to move into midfield.
Immediately, Zico reacted and took off his defensive midfielder Maldonado and replaced him with Mateja Kezman.
The ex-Chelsea striker received a more than cool welcome from the home fans who shared their manager’s slight sense of panic.
Again Fenerbahce found space and men with ease in the Chelsea area but a lack of urgency meant they failed to capitalise.
Drogba almost sealed it 11 minutes from time but once again Volkan was equal to his shot from a free-kick.
Gonul’s shot was brilliantly scrambled away by Hilario who then denied former Coca-Cola kid Colin Kazim-Richards — a first-leg goal hero for the Turkish side.
Essien, who was booked and will now miss the first leg of the semi-final, found Lamps in the six-yard box and he made no mistake.
It sparked wild celebrations at the Bridge and now later this month they face one week that will shape their destiny.
In between the ties with Liverpool, they have a potential League decider at home against Manchester United.
It’s a scenario even Hans Christian Andersen could not have scripted after Mourinho left the club following a meek draw at home with Rosenborg last September.
The world seemed a very dark and hopeless place for Chelsea then making the excitement now all the more unbelievable.
After two dreadful semis between the sides, Chelsea and Liverpool owe the nation a good one before one of them progresses to the final.
Rule Britannia in Russia? Let’s hope so. But put on a show in the semi-final first. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Daily Express:
BALLACK HEAD START IS HOW TO TALK TURKEY
By Frank Wiechula
Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0
ROMAN Abramovich’s dream of seeing his Chelsea reach a first Champions League final in his native Russia stayed right on nerve-shredding course.
Michael Ballack, after just four minutes, and Frank Lampard, three minutes from the end of normal time, scored the all-important goals to book a precious semi-final slot – the Londoners’ fourth in the last five years in the competition billionaire owner Abramovich covets more than any other.
But the Blues were worried late on as substitute keeper Hilario – who came on after 25 minutes for the injured Carlo Cudicini – had to keep out shots from Gonul Gokhan and Colin Kazim-Richards as Fenerbahce threatened a massive upset.
But Lampard soothed those nerves with his finish, and now all Chelsea have to do to confirm their place in Moscow Luzhniki’s Stadium for the big one on May 21 is get past semi-final opponents Liverpool.
It will not be easy as the Merseysiders, who defeated Arsenal in the other quarter-final, have knocked Chelsea out of the last four in 2005 and 2007.
The prophetic Ballack had insisted the day before that Chelsea would love to make a fast start against the Turks.
And the German was as good as his word, heading in Lampard’s free-kick from the right with unerring accuracy.
Fenerbahce were stunned and only the foot of the left-hand post saved them from going even further behind five minutes later. Salomon Kalou combined with Joe Cole and the England man’s instinctive close-range effort hit a post.
Moments later, on the opposite flank, Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demirel had to dive low to keep out a Ballack drive as Chelsea threatened to put the contest to bed by the half-hour mark.
Fenerbahce partially weathered the storm and created their first attack. From a free-kick, Deivid – who netted the winner a week ago – headed well wide from Alex’s set-play.
Chelsea were lifted by the return after injury of centre-back Ricardo Carvalho and leading scorer Didier Drogba – who both missed Saturday’s Premier League victory over Manchester City.
Cudicini retained his place in Chelsea’s goal after Petr Cech’s freak weekend facial injury sustained in training, which required surgery and 50 stitches.
Drogba almost made it goodnight Fenerbahce with an excellent 21st-minute effort.
The lone Chelsea striker cut inside Gokhan on the edge of the box and curled a tremendous right-footer inches past the top of the far upright.
But Chelsea’s smooth progress suffered an unnecessary jolt after 25 minutes when Cudicini was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury, the Italian being replaced by Hilario.
It was only the Portuguese reserve’s sixth senior appearance of the season and he almost picked the ball out of the net six minutes later.
An Alex free-kick fell perfectly for Lugano, on his own on the right flank, inside the box. But the Fenerbahce man headed a gilt-edged opportunity just wide and Chelsea escaped.
At the other end Demirel had to be on his toes to keep out a sweeping low Drogba drive after the Ivory Coast international expertly linked up with Joe Cole.
Chelsea needed that second goal, and Kalou and Frank Lampard combined at threatening pace after 40 minutes, only for Kalou to supply a weak final effort.
Drogba forced another fine stop from Demirel with a neat swivel and left-foot shot on the edge of Fenerbahce’s area after right-back Michael Essien had drilled over a low cross.
Joe Cole created more uncertainty in the Fenerbahce area with a low 54nd-minute centre which drew Demirel out of his goal and Essien set up another opening for Drogba, who found Ballack in the box, but the German was just crowded out on 55 minutes.
Fenerbahce brought on former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman on the hour, but Chelsea, marshalled superbly by skipper John Terry at the heart of the defence, stayed firm.
Drogba kept Fenerbahce occupied at the opposite end, again forcing Demirel to go to ground to keep out his 66th-minute effort.
Essien – who had been booked a moment before, thus ruling him out for the first leg of the semi-final – created the clinching second goal three minutes from time.
He worked his way into the box, tight to the byline, and laid the ball back perfectly for Lampard to ram home Chelsea’s second.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cudicini (Hilario 25); Essien, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Makelele; J Cole (Malouda 85), Lampard, Ballack, Kalou (Belletti 58); Drogba. Booked: Essien, Carvalho. Goals: Ballack 4, Lampard 87.
Fenerbahce (4-3-2-1): Demirel; Gokhan, Lugano, Edu, Vederson (Bilgin 89); Maldonado (Kezman 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards; Alex, Deivid; Senturk (Boral 75).
Referee: H Fandel (Germany).