Chelsea reaches Champions League final

By Joseph Wilson

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, April 25 2012 12:05 a.m. MDT

View 4 photos »

FC Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, left, scores past Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech from Czech Republic during a semifinal second leg Champions League soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Associated Press

Summary

Chelsea eliminated defending champion Barcelona and reached the Champions League final with a 2-2 tie Tuesday night.

BARCELONA, Spain — Chelsea eliminated defending champion Barcelona and reached the Champions League final with a 2-2 tie Tuesday night, winning the semifinal on 3-2 aggregate despite playing most of the game a man short.

Barcelona trailed 1-0 from the first leg but took a 2-0 lead in the game on goals by Sergio Busquets in the 35th minute and Andres Iniesta in the 44th.

Chelsea played a man short after John Terry was given a red card in the 37th, but rallied as Ramires scored on a lob over goalkeeper Victor Valdes in first-half injury time, tying the aggregate and giving Chelsea the advantage on away goals.

Three-time FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi sent a penalty kick off the crossbar in the 59th after Didier Drogba pulled down Cesc Fabregas. Messi hit a post late, Barcelona had a goal disallowed for offside and substitute Fernando Torres sealed the win when he scored on a breakaway in the 90th.

Comments