Chelsea 'Miracle' Puts Added Pressure On Toon

25 April 2012 11:56
Chelsea produced one of the greatest escapes in the history of European football ...

as they survived the sending-off of John Terry to win an astonishing Champions League semi-final with Barcelona after a 2-2 draw in the Nou Camp.

A result that makes it a little tougher for Newcastle United to get into the Champions League.

Should Chelsea win the final - and finish below Newcastle - they will take the fourth place in the Champions League.

On a night of unparalleled drama, Terry looked to have pressed the self-destruct button on the Blues' hopes of glory on the continent when he saw red for needlessly kneeing Alexis Sanchez from behind.

But the 10 men were simply magnificent for the rest of the second leg, fighting back from goals from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta with a stunning chip from Ramires before half-time.

And after surviving a Barca siege from start to finish that saw Lionel Messi miss a penalty, Fernando Torres came off the bench to score a stoppage-time breakaway goal as Chelsea avenged their 2009 defeat in the most dramatic manner.

Reaching their second final came at a huge cost, though, with Terry's red card and yellows for Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles ruling them out of the final.

But they will worry about that in the morning after celebrating arguably the greatest result in the club's history and one which may finally convince Roman Abramovich to make Roberto Di Matteo's appointment as manager permanent.

Source: FOOTYMAD