Chelsea 4 Liverpool 4 ( 7-5 aggregate)
Both Chelsea and Liverpool were on fantastic form in last night’s Champions League match, each firing 4 goals past their opposition in one of the most thrilling matches of the season. Chelsea clearly felt comfortable from the 3-1 lead that they brought home from Anfield and from the first whistle Liverpool used this to their advantage firing 2 two goals past them by the 30 minute mark, and making the task that had seemed so impossible, to score 3 goals at Stamford Bridge, a possible one.
But the game was far from over. The score line stayed the same until half time and Hiddink sent his team back out early. 6 minutes later Didier Drodga’s strike was fumbled over the line by Pepe Reina himself. The game swung further back in Chelsea’s favour when Jamie Carragher fouled Florent Malouda and Alex responded with a stunning 25 yard free kick that the best goalkeepers in the world could not catch on a good day. Finally, when Lampard scored in the 76th minute the games for the reds seemed effectively over.
But Liverpool, ever the comeback kings, did not give up firing in two shots in as many minutes from Lucas and Dirk Kuyt, leaving them only one goal short of victory. It was only when Lampard struck his second of the night with a minute remaining could Chelsea finally celebrate a victory. Chelsea have progressed to the semis but were pushed every inch of the way by Liverpool, and now have the task of facing Barcelona at the Nou camp with a noticeably shaky Petr Cech and without Ashley Cole who was booked for a block on Arbeloa.
Emma Leonce
