Ba’s late goal takes Chelsea through

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Chelsea 2 Paris St-Germain 0 (Aggregate: 3-3 – Chelsea win on away goals)

Substitute Demba Ba’s 87th-minute goal took Chelsea through to the Champions League semi-finals.

Andre Schurrle, on for the injured Eden Hazard, gave them the early goal they wanted in what turned out to be a dramatic quarter-final second leg.

And just as Paris St-Germain seemed destined for the last four, Cesar Azpilicueta’s shot was deflected into the path of Ba, who netted from close range.

The Blues, 3-1 down from the first leg, suffered a setback when talisman Hazard – whose away goal in France proved crucial – limped off after 18 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

But his replacement struck 14 minutes later, scoring with a half-volley from near the penalty spot after Branislav Ivanovic’s long throw had been flicked on by David Luiz.

PSG, without sidelined striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, moved the ball around nicely and looked assured at the back before leaving Schurrle unmarked.

The German duly punished them – unlike Gary Cahill, who missed a chance to put Chelsea level on aggregate when he blazed high and wide of the target after PSG had failed to deal with Frank Lampard’s left-wing free-kick.

Chelsea continued to attack after the interval, with Schurrle and Oscar hitting the bar in quick succession early in the second half.

Schurrle was unlucky after being picked out by Willian, while visiting keeper Salvatore Sirigu got nowhere near Oscar’s thumping free-kick.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, never beaten in a Champions League quarter-final, sent Ba and later Fernando Torres on as his side searched for a second goal.

As they continued to push forward they inevitably became vulnerable on the counter-attack, and Edinson Cavani fired wastefully over after being set up by former Newcastle man Yohan Cabaye, before Lucas Moura’s effort brought a save from Petr Cech.

And an injury-time stop from Cech ensured Ba’s goal was enough to take Mourinho’s men through.

Cech, beaten at the near post in the dying moments in the first leg, this time saved at the near post, diving to his left to keep out Marquinhos’ shot.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Luiz, Lampard (Ba 67); Willian, Oscar (Torres 81), Hazard (Schurrle 18); Eto’o.
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Kalas, Mikel.

 

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