Heartbreak at Stamford Bridge

As it turned out, Barcelona booked a date with ManU on 27 May at the Stadio Olympico, Rome.

It was heartbreak at Stamford Bridge, when Barcelona won the game on away goal as the aggregate score stood at 1-1 after the second leg. As they say, it came down to the wires and past the regulation time, it looked as if the blues were all set for a rematch of last season, but it was not to be.

A stoppage time strike by Iniesta (the goal was scored in the third minute of injury time of the allotted four minutes) did break millions of hearts. To be fair, Barcelona defied all odds. Till the injury time, it looked as if they were badly hit by the absence of Henry and Puyol. The second half dismissal of Abidal rubbed some salt to the wounds. But Josep Guardiola’s men had to show their mettle and they did it in style.

Of course, there could be some arguments about the performance of the Norwegian referee (red card to Abidal, denying a handball appeal against Pique, denying Drogba a penalty in the first half itself are a few instances), but no doubt Barcelona was the better team on the field. And that too across both the legs. Chelsea seemed unable to keep the ball and complete at least three passes a time. Not only that, the blues missed too many opportunities. The post-game shouting got a yellow card for Drogba, and his outburst against the camera also would not go unnoticed, but he was the first culprit. Missed one chance too many.

Essien’s goal in the ninth minute and the Chelsea’s tails were up, but they did not keep the ball in possession and Drogba missed at least three scoring opportunities.

Bottomline: Chelsea has only themselves to blame for the defeat.