Bayern Munich had a tricky home tie against a Chelsea team that must think their name is on the Champions League trophy.
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Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea
Penalties: Chelsea win 4-3
Have you got room left for another course of high quality and scrumptious action? We are 20 minutes away from kick-off in a tantalising Champions League Final. ‘Day of Destiny’ screams Sky Sports – I hope someone told David Luiz.
Here are the line-ups:
Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Mata, Bertrand; Drogba.
Ryan Bertrand in for Chelsea and Torres settling down on the bench.
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Timoschchuk, Contento; Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Gomez.
One of the best midfields in Europe and Schweinsteiger will be key in Bayern trying to dictate the tempo.
It will be Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand on the left flank. No Malouda, as many predicted, and Rudd Gullit believes that is a mistake. A lot of the Chelsea attack will come through Mata and Drogba. The big man needs a big game.
John Terry not on the pitch but he has already given us some great final memories.
YouTube credit: ioomzee
The singing is over and the trophy sits at the entrance to the players’ tunnel as both teams stride out. Amazing colour and atmosphere in Munich.
And we’re off. Ribery gets an early run down the wing and the Germans are in fine voice. Early handball and yellow card for Schweinsteiger. It was deliberate.
Schweinsteiger has a shot charged down by Gary Cahill then Kroos has a smash but it careens wide. Bright start.
Chelsea are repeating some of the stifling tactics that frustrated Barcelona in the semi-final as they allow the flanks and contract up the centre in parallel lines.
Mata and Mikel linking up well in the middle but it is a rare foray upfield for Chelsea as Robben and Ribery test the Londoners down the wings. Luiz has got in a couple of strong headed clearances and Lampard is content to sit and guard the back four, for now.
Petr Cech comes looking for an over-hit corner and Mario Gomez should score when the ball is centred for him but he refuses to hit it first time. Three corners in quick succession, all taken short, but Chelsea survive.
Robben weaves his way into the box and fires low at Cech, who does well to save with his feet. Another corner cleared and Mata does well to give Chelsea time to breathe.
Step forward David Luiz. He clatters into Muller – very needlesly – and Robben has a free opportunity from 25 yards out. The Dutchman wastes it by hitting the wall.
Chelsea get a promising free now as Boateng is rash in the tackle. Mata gives it a whirl but it is too high. 33 minutes gone.
Golden scoring chance for Bayern. Ribery does well on the left wing and finds Muller but he screws his volley wide. Drigba gets a sniff but gets crowded out in the box. Chelsea coming back into it now and Kalou gets a low drive on target but Neuer blocks.
Mario Gomez has missed a second gilt-edged chance as he tries to take a touch rather than shooting. Some pinball in the box but Cole hacks clear.
Somebody owes me money, a drink, or both. I was harping on midweek about Gomez needing five chances to score one. The striker is proving me right as he wastes glorious chance number three – ballooning over from the edge of the box.
HALF-TIME and it is Bayern Munich 0-0 Chelsea. Territory in favour of the Germans but Cech has only had one real save to make.
Miguel Delaney will be giving us post-game reaction from Munich. Here is what he thinks at the break.
JT plans the best route to peg it onto the pitch and lift the trophy if Chelsea win. (Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport)
Gary Cahill tweaked his hamstring at the end of the first-half but is back out on the field.
Mario Gomez has scored 41 goals so far this season but has been inept at finishing tonight. Here was his worst miss.
YouTube credit: BayernChelseaGOALSHD
Early incision from Ribery as he charges after Cahill and whips in a good ball. Luiz slides in to clear.
Colm has a feeling in his bones for Chelsea.
Drogba decides to have a volley from 40 metres out but the shot swerves left and wide. Luiz did well moments earlier to clean up his own defensive gaff.
Gomez goes swan diving in the box then Drogba has another shot blocked down.
Woah! Goal for Bayern called offside. Robben had a shot that was blocked by a Chelsea defender and Ribery swept home but the flag was up. If he was offside it was only by inches.
Kalou looks like he has a Black Widow spider shaved into the back of his head. Stunning haircuttery by his gentleman barber. I must hunt down a picture for you.
Kroos gets berated by his coach after blarging a shot 10 yards wide.
Robben is then denied by a stunning, sliding block from Ashley Cole. Kudos.
“With great power comes … great haircuts.” (Credit: soccer-blogger.com)
Lahm is giving up his defensive post as Bayern press on. Weak penalty appeal for handball by Cole but Bayern settle for a corner. Cech flaps at it and Luiz gets the block in. The ball comes back into the box and Lahm goes down far too easily. 66 minutes gone.
Bayern are really squeezing the game now and the corner count is rising. Robben strikes from distance but Cech gathers comfortably. Malouda is preparing to come on.
Drogba shoots straight at Neuer. Bertrand is off for Malouda. Ribery tries to slide through for Muller but Chelsea clear again.
Ribery then dinks the ball around Lampard and gets a chip in that Cech tips over. Corner number 487 to be taken and it is cleared.
Muller is the next to snatch at a chance, dragging a volley wide. Nerves at play there.
Contento gets in a dangerous cross and Muller gets a chance on target but the header does not trouble Cech.
GOAL! It’s a filthy header but it goes in. The ball is chipped to the back post and Muller heads it downwards but it does enough to go in off the underside of the bar.
That goal was headed into the turf and bounced up sharply to beat Cech. Torres on as the game eeks into the last five minutes.
Corner kick Chelsea. GOAL! Drogba scores a super near-post header.
Gary Neville did his now trademark holler when Drogba rattled his header in. Bayern are shell-shocked. Looking like extra-time.
Ribery has clambered all over Mata and it is a free kick from 30 metres – it will be the last kick of the game. Drogba. Surely not?
Drilled way over. FULL-TIME and it is Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea. Destiny beckoning for the blues. They have the advantage now. Bayern have to compose themselves.
Back underway and Torres looking to break through but his run is snuffed out.
PENALTY BAYERN MUNICH!
Didier Drogba has clipped Ribery from behind. Clumsy move. Robben to take. Yellow for Didier and there has been a hold-up for almost two minutes as Ribery is down with cramp. Here we go …
Robben misses! Woeful from Robben. Weak and to Cech’s left. He gets down well to save. Disaster for the Germans.
Ribery is off now and Olic is on. Luiz has hacked down Conteto and gets cautioned.
Torres does well to earn a free at the halfway line and give his teammates a breather.
As for Robben’s penalty. I wonder how many times he beat Cech with ease from the penalty spot on the Chelsea training ground?
A minute left at the end of the first half of extra time. Lampard concedes a free but Munich waste it.
Into the last 15 here and both sides look out of ideas. Ribery going off was a huge blow for Bayern. What odds on Torres slamming home the winning penalty.
Olic earns a penalty for his side. Bosingwa blocks a Boateng drive and Chelsea set up camp.
Olic you gutless wonder! He has a chance to slam home from six yards out but chooses instead to square it for Daniel van Buyten. He should have put his foot through it. Glaring miss.
This is getting ridiculous. Lahm does well to cut into the box. He tries to tee up Gomez but Cahill is super as he shuts down the German. Torres heads clear from the resulting corner.
Five minutes remain and Robben to swing in a free for Munich. Sand wedge effort and Cech claims with ease.
Torres worms his way into the box but fouls Contento. Chelsea fans in good voice now. Into injury time. FULL-TIME AND PENALTIES COMING UP.
“Save three and I’ll buy you a speedboat”
Fernando Torres looks focused. Lahm and Lampard hug it out at the coin toss. Penalties being taken at the Bayern Munich end. Big toss to win!
Lahm first up – GOAL! Cech gets a hand to it but can’t keep it out. 1-0
MATA MISSES – save by Neuer.
GOMEZ SCORES FOR 2-0 – Cech nearly there again
My God! Great penalty from David Luiz. GOAL 2-1
NEUER -THE GOALKEEPER – SLOTS IT HOME. 3-1 BAYERN.
Here comes Frank Lampard. Roofs it for a GOAL. 3-2.
OLIC MISS! He never looked confident and Cech bats it away.
ASHLEY COLE SCORES! He checked his run and found the bottom corner.
Schweinsteiger up next. HITS THE POST! Chelsea one penalty away.
DIDIER DROGBA … SCORES!!!
CHELSEA WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES!
They are going ballistic here. Lots of players in tears. Drogba’s penalty was so cool. The turning point was the stinking penalty by Olic. Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba took amazing penalties.
Oh great, here comes John Terry … fully kitted out in his Chelsea gear. This man has the biggest, brassiest neck on planet earth.
Roberto di Matteo – expect a call from Fenway Sports Group on Monday!
Righto, that’s it from me. Keep with us for reactions, comments and insights from Miguel Delaney over in Munich. Hard luck Bayern Munich. Congratulations Chelsea.
