Nerve racking for Chelsea, easy for Real
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E-mail China Daily, April 5, 2012
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Chelsea's Lampard scores from the penalty box against Benfica during their Champions League quarter-final second leg match at Stamford Bridge stadium in London.[Photo/Agencies] |
Chelsea's 3-1 aggregate win, after a nerve-racking finale, means they will repeat their acrimonious semi-final of three seasons ago when the Catalans won on away goals.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg in Lisbon, Chelsea reached halftime in a dominant position after Frank Lampard scored a 21st-minute penalty and Benfica skipper Maxi Pereira was sent off for a second yellow card five minutes before the break.
However, twice European champions Benfica refused to lie down and grabbed a deserved equaliser with a Javi Garcia header with five minutes to go.
As the Portuguese pressed for a tie-winning goal, they were caught on the break as former Porto player Raul Meireles struck the winner in stoppage time to send Chelsea to the semi-finals for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
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Chelsea's midfielder Meireles scores past Benfica's Emerson during their Champions League quarter-final second leg match at Stamford Bridge stadium in London.[Photo/Agencies] |
