Thursday, May 16, 2013

Chelsea snatch the Europa League from Benifica after scoring at the death


Chelsea won the Europa League after Branislav Ivanovic scored in the 93rd minute of an absorbing tie.
Chelsea followed the Champions League final win last year with another European title last night.

Benifica started brightly and were just all over Chelsea and Chelsea were just about able to defend in the final third and keep the score to 0-0. Benifica were quick with their passing and movement and the Chelsea midfield were struggling to cope with the movement of the Benifica players.
Especially David Luiz was very poor as he could not keep hold of the ball and when ever Benifica had the ball he was like a headless chicken running on the pitch.
That put a lot pressure on Frank Lampard in the middle of the midfield. Benifica were brilliant in the passing but they were not shooting when they could have a sight at the goal but they played as if they wanted to pass the ball in the goal.



That was useful to Chelsea and they were defending well in their penalty area by the skin of their teeth.
Chelsea were too calm and they let Benifica play their game and Chelsea scrambled to clear the ball in their own penalty area quiet a few times.
Benifica wanted to put their previous disappointing finals behind them and win this tie, but they could not score the half chances that fell in their way.
They could have scored 3 to 4 goals in the first 30 minutes itself if they had tried to shoot a lot more times and with better precision.

After half an hour Chelsea were getting into some rhythm and Frank Lampard Created the best chance on goal when he had a shot from outside the penalty area.
But the Benifica keeper Arthur managed to somehow tip the swinging and moving ball over the bar.

It was goalless at half time, but then it looked like a competitive game with both teams playing well and creating better changes.
Then a throw from Cech was nicely left off for Fernando Torres who managed to get the better of the Benifica Captain Lusiao and then rounding off the Benifica keeper and scoring from a tight angle and a sliding Benifica player to score the goal for Chelsea.

It Torres's 6th goal on this competition which looks very different to his record in the League where he hasn't scored once this year 2013. Torres has a knack to score in Finals as he did in the Champions League last season and Euro 2012 for Spain.

After the goal Benifica went at Chelsea with more aggression. And it resulted in Cech producing a decent save from Oscar Cardozo's effort. Benifica did hit back with a penalty as Azpilicueta handled the ball in the penalty box and Benifica were awarded a penalty. Oscar Cardozo stepped up and equalised for Benifica.

As the game went on with both team looking to take the lead Frank Lampard hit the post with a shot from distance. The rebound missed the pouncing Ramirez and was cleared by the Benifica defense. But as the clock ticked into injury time Chelsea got a corner and you could say this could be the corner where Chelsea snatch the trophy. Branislav Ivanovic headed the ball from corner across goal into the Benifica net and scored.

With still time left for a final attack Benifica launched the ball into the Chelsea penaly box.  Ivanovic tried to win the ball from Cardozo with a half hearted tug and the ball fell to the feet of the Benifica striker but a last ditch clearance buy Gary Cahill saved his defensive partner from letting the opposition score. The ball was cleared and Chelsea manged to hold on for a few seconds and win their second successive European Cup.

Heartbreak for Benifica yet again and delight for Chelsea and their departing manager Rafael Benitez.
John Terry again lifted a trophy after missing yet another final this time due to injury. That the second time after he missed the Champions league final through suspension.

Football

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