Chelsea Win Champions League on Penalties over Bayern Munich

The Guardian

Chelsea win Champions League on penalties over Bayern Munich
• Didier Drogba slots the winner in a dramatic shootout
• Game went to penalties after extra-time finished on 1-1

These are the moments Chelsea will always cherish and never forget. They gave everything and finally, when it was all done, they had the European Cup in their possession and a night that will go straight in at No1 in their list of great triumphs from the Roman Abramovich era.

It was a rare form of euphoria on a night when, just like Moscow four years ago, it came down to the gut-wrenching drama of a penalty shootout. At one stage Bayern Munich were leading 3-1 and the Chelsea players stood in line, heads bowed, fearing the worst. Juan Mata's effort had been saved by Manuel Neuer and at that point Roberto Di Matteo's players knew they were on the brink of walking past the European Cup and not being allowed to touch the silver.

What happened next was extraordinary and went against everything we know about the efficiency of Bundesliga clubs and penalties. Petr Cech started the turnaround by saving from Ivica Olic and with Bayern's next effort Bastian Schweinsteiger's shot came back off the post. David Luiz, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole had all beaten Neuer and suddenly, almost implausibly, it was left to Didier Drogba with probably the last kick of his last match for the club. What a parting gift the Ivorian may have left considering that it was also his 88th-minute goal that had dragged this final into extra time, just as Thomas Müller's goal looked like giving Bayern their fifth victory in this competition.

The trophy was being adorned with red and white ribbons by the time Drogba headed in the equaliser and when it was all over the Bayern players were on their knees. Arjen Robben could barely be lifted from the turf and Schweinsteiger's personal grief had started even before Drogba began the long walk from the centre circle to the penalty area. High in the stands Abramovich could be seen doing that little uncoordinated hop and skip, reminding us that for all the money in the world there is no possible value that can be put on this kind of occasion. Chelsea's owner held Di Matteo in an emotional clinch that makes you wonder how he could possibly now move on the Italian this summer.

This may not be the most exhilarating Chelsea team but nobody can dispute their resolve because those final dramatic moments told only part of the story on a night when Cech also saved Robben's penalty in the first period of extra time. Chelsea's goalkeeper seemed to fill the entire goal at times and probably had legitimate claims to be recognised as the most heroic figure. There were, however, plenty of contenders.

What should not be overlooked is that Bayern are formidable opponents on this ground, with only two home defeats here in the Bundesliga, 49 goals scored and six conceded. They played with great adventure, attacking from the flanks. On one side, Robben was an indefatigable opponent, picking up the ball from deep positions and driving forward. On the other, Franck Ribéry was a constant menace until he was injured in the foul by Drogba that gave Robben the chance to win the game against his former club. It was a silly trip from Drogba and Robben struck his penalty cleanly enough, low to Cech's left. Cech smothered the shot and was first to the loose ball and for the first time you could detect the nerves from the end where Bayern's most beery, boisterous fans had produced a banner before kick-off describing the cup as unser pokal – our trophy.

Chelsea had to endure some intense pressure. Not quite as relentless as the two legs of their semi-final against Barcelona but fairly unremitting all the same. Once again, they had to defend with great togetherness and commitment and their opponents were left to wonder how on earth they had not turned their superiority into goals. With some better finishing, the game would never have reached extra time. Even then, Olic will wonder how he missed the chance that fell to him, unchallenged, after 108 minutes of mostly one-sided action.

Chelsea, in stark contrast, rarely threatened the opposition's goal but it was probably inevitable when two-thirds of the stadium was bedecked in red and their opponents had so many accomplished players. This was a patched-up side in many ways, with John Terry watching from the stands, another three players suspended and two centre-backs coming back from month-long layoffs. David Luiz and Gary Cahill were outstanding. Cole showed, once again, that he is one of the great big-game footballers and behind them they had a goalkeeper delivering a giant performance.

Chelsea may not have offered a great deal going forward but they played as though affronted by the suggestion that Terry's absence would play a critical part.

Their tactics were epitomised by Ryan Bertrand's involvement on the left of midfield, often doubling up with Cole so that Chelsea effectively had two full-backs in close proximity to Robben. In midfield, Lampard curbed his natural attacking instincts to play a more conservative role alongside Mikel John Obi. Di Matteo had set up Chelsea to play very much as the "away" team, meaning Drogba was often isolated in attack. In the end, you would have to say the manager got it spot on.

Their resistance broke only once, on 83 minutes, when Müller stole in behind Cole to score with a stooping header. A lesser side would have hoisted the white flag but what has become very apparent since Di Matteo took over from André Villas-Boas is that is not the way of this Chelsea team. Mata's corner was whipped across the penalty area and Drogba was fast and decisive, flashing his header into the top corner.

Then the penalties arrived and with their first three attempts, Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez and, remarkably, Neuer, all scored. At that stage who could have imagined Terry would be walking up the steps to help Lampard lift the trophy?



The Sun

Chelsea win the Champions League
Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 1 (aet) - Blues win 4-3 on penalties

Chelsea were crowned European champions last night after a dramatic penalty shootout in Germany.

For Blues owner Roman Abramovich, this was not a dream, it was an obsession. In his nine years at Stamford Bridge, he has axed eight managers, signed 66 players and spent over £1billion.

But even the Russian could not have imagined that an ageing squad and a rookie manager would finally bring home the trophy he describes as football’s holy grail.

On a night of tension and excitement, Roberto Di Matteo’s men had looked dead and buried more than once.

Thomas Muller gave Bayern the lead on 83 minutes only for Didier Drogba to level with a powerful header from Juan Mata’s 88th-minute corner.

Striker Drogba then went from hero to villain as he brought down Franck Ribery inside Chelsea’s box in the opening stages of extra-time.

But Petr Cech denied former Blues winger Arjen Robben from the resulting penalty.

The drama did not end there, though, as Chelsea struggled with fatigue, lost the toss as the game went to penalties and were forced to embark on a shootout in front of Bayern’s fans.

Mata missed Chelsea’s first spot-kick to give Bayern the upper hand after Philipp Lahm had opened the scoring.

Mario Gomez made it 2-0 before David Luiz eventually got Chelsea off the mark.

But Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer appeared to put the trophy out of Chelsea’s reach by netting to make it 3-1.

Frank Lampard gave the Blues hope before the drama really unfolded when Cech denied sub Ivica Olic brilliantly and Ashley Cole brought Chelsea level at 3-3.

Then when midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger missed, it was probably only fitting that Drogba, who had carried Chelsea to the final, should bury the crucial kick.

All the early pressure came from Bayern as they attempted to torture Chelsea using the pace of wingers Ribery and Robben.

The first sight of goal fell to Bayern as Toni Kroos unleashed a right-footed drive that flew past Cech’s right-hand post.

Even at an early stage, it was evident Bayern were going to see far more of the ball and Chelsea were likely to rely on quick, counter-attacking football — just like they did against Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Yet it was near suicidal defending from Jose Boswinga that almost handed Bayern the initiative when he made a complete hash of clearing Lampard’s backpass.

It needed a breathtaking save from Cech to deny Robben.

The Dutchman was poised to wheel away in celebration but saw the ball come off the keeper’s leg and divert on to the angle of the post and bar.

If Chelsea were going to overcome a side that had won seven straight home games en route to the final, they were going to do it the hard way.

Muller should have given Bayern the lead, firing wide with a volley from a pinpoint Diego Contento cross.

Chelsea then produced their best move of the half nine minutes before the break.

Drogba cushioned the ball and laid it off to Lampard, who found Salomon Kalou. He strode forward before firing in a shot that Neuer did well to save at his near post.

It brought an instant reaction from Bayern but the outstanding Gary Cahill was equal to Gomez as the striker attempted to turn and get his shot away.

After the break Bayern picked up where they had left off, with Robben ballooning the ball over having raced into Chelsea’s box before Ribery found the net on 54 minutes — only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

Ashley Cole then came to the Blues’ rescue, blocking a goalbound shot from Robben.

Even Chelsea’s talisman Drogba began to sit deep, leaving the Blues with few attacking options when they did manage to clear the ball.

Robben was continuing to play like a man possessed but even he was becoming frustrated by his side’s inability to turn possession into clear-cut chances.

With 12 minutes left, Muller had a great chance to put Bayern ahead but lost his footing and fired wide.

But his luck changed on 83 minutes when his superb downward header beat Cech to make it 1-0.

Di Matteo threw on Fernando Torres for Kalou with six minutes left and, with time running out, they won a corner on the right.

Mata stepped up and his delivery found Drogba, who powered his header home.

But barely minutes into extra-time, Drogba took away Ribery’s legs inside Chelsea’s penalty area.

Robben stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick but Cech came out on top.

Again Bayern came back at Chelsea and should have regained the lead through Olic — but he shot inches wide when unmarked.

The Blues were now playing for penalties, a dangerous tactic given England’s record against German sides and their spot-kick pain against Manchester United in 2008.

Luckily, for Abramovich, his ageing stars had not read the script.