Barcelona booked their place in the champions league final with Iniesta’s stunning injury time winner in west london.
Ghanian midfielder Michael Essien's stunning 9th minute strike looked to be enough for Chelsea to set up a repeat of last season's final against Manchester United, but two minutes into added time, Andres Iniesta scored the most dramatic of away goal of his life.
Chelsea were furious at the final whistle as they felt they should have been awarded up to three penalties over the 90 minutes, with Didier Drogba particularly vocal and furious in his criticism of the referee.
Chelsea v Barcelona
Barcelona had dominated in terms of possession, but Iniesta’s effort, which followed a costly error by Michael Essien, was, incredibly, their first shot on target. Pep Guardiola’s team had shown that they had substance to fortify their style, refusing to accept defeat even after being left to play the final quarter of the game a man short when Éric Abidal was sent off for a perceived professional foul on Nicolas Anelka. Chelsea’s regrets will centre around Ovrebo’s performance, which Guus Hiddink, not one for exaggeration, called the worst that he had witnessed in his long career, but it should also be noted that Barcelona were wrongly denied a penalty in the first leg.
Chelsea had taken the lead when Essien beat Víctor Valdés with a superb left-volley that crashed in off the crossbar from 25 yards, and, by the time the game entered its closing stages, it seemed that the relentless strength of Essien, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda had won the day, along with their devotion to a game plan that had neutralised Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and the rest.
Two unsuccessful penalty appeals Chelsea could tolerate, at least while they were leading, but their agitation grew in the second half as Ovrebo continued to give them short shrift. The next two were less sound, as Yaya Touré stayed just within the laws with two excellent tackles to nick the ball off the feet of Drogba, then Anelka. Less understandable was Ovrebo’s intransigence when Gerard Piqué blocked Anelka’s flick with a hand, which, intentionally or not, was raised away from his body.
None of this would have mattered had Drogba not shot straight at the legs of Valdés but, after Abidal’s red card, Chelsea sat back and paid the price. Essien’s slip allowed Eto’o and then Messi to set up Iniesta for a shot that faded away from Petr Cech at the last moment.
Even then there was time for another penalty appeal, Ballack’s shot hitting the outstretched arm of Eto’o, leaving Chelsea to wonder if they will ever lift the European Cup. Terry and his team-mates are not getting any younger and there could come a point when they wonder if it is just not meant to be.
