Chelsea made it back-to-back
European wins as they claimed
the Europa League with a 2-1 win
over Benfica in the Amsterdam
Arena.The final had appeared to be
heading for extra-time as Oscar
Cardozo had levelled from the
penalty spot just eight minutes
after Fernando Torres had put
Chelsea ahead on the hour. But it was won in injury-time as
Branislav Ivanovic rose brilliantly
to head home a Juan Mata
corner to give Chelsea yet more
European silverware just 12
months after claiming the Champions League title. It was a night of disappointment
for Benfica as they played their
part in a thrilling contest in
Holland. The Portuguese outfit
were by far the better team in
the opening half, and they enjoyed good possession
throughout - but they failed to
really test Petr Cech. As early as the second minute
Cardozo headed over, whilst Nico
Gaitan twice fired wide and Enzo
Perez and Eduardo Salvio were
constantly probing and driving
forward from midfield. One-time Bolton loanee Rodrigo
probably had the best chance of
the half when a free-kick was
taken short and came into him
just six yards out, but he twice
lost his footing and missed the chance to test Cech. Chelsea were limited but Artur
had to pull off an exceptional
save just before the break when
Frank Lampard made a rare
foray to the edge of their box
and unleashed an archetypal thunderous drive, but the
Brazilian managed to tip it over
when he looked to be going the
wrong way. Into the second half and the
expected reaction from Chelsea
did not materialise with Benfica
pushing forward in numbers
again. Gaitan saw a half-volley fly
wide before Cardozo had a header ruled out for offside. On the hour mark Cech made a
good save from Salvio's back-
post header - but from that
nobody expected what was to
come as Chelsea were ahead
within seconds. Cech threw the ball long for Mata
in the centre-circle, he flicked it
on and Torres was away, holding
off Luisao and going past Artur
before finishing clinically. Chelsea's lead though lasted just
eight minutes. Cesar Azpilicueta
handled in the box as substitute
Lima flicked the ball on and
Cardozo stepped up to hammer
the ball past Cech. Both teams pushed on for the
winner and they both had their
chances. Cech was at his best as
he tipped over a brilliant dipping
volley from Cardozo. Then captain Lampard came
within inches of winning it in the
final minute of normal time but
his stunning effort from 30 yards
cannoned back off the bar. But, just when the game looked
to be heading into extra-time,
Chelsea won it. Ramires chased
down a long ball to win a corner,
Mata took it and Ivanovic rose
unmarked to head into the corner of the net. Still there was time for Cardozo
to almost be presented with a
chance to take the match to
extra-time, but he was denied by
a great lunge from Gary Cahill
and Chelsea celebrated as the full-time whistle went just
moments later.
Topic: Chelsea win it at the death (Read 1335 times)
