Drogba the hero as Chelsea win Champions League

MUNICH, Germany: Didier Drogba was the hero as Chelsea shattered Bayern Munich's Champions League dream on Saturday with victory in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena.

Drogba stepped up to rifle home the winning penalty for Chelsea after earlier saving his side with an equalising goal two minutes from time to cancel out what looked like the winner from Thomas Mueller as the final finished 1-1.

It was an agonising defeat for Bayern, who saw midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger miss with their final kick to give Drogba the opportunity to score the penalty to clinch the shoot-out 4-3.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech also saved brilliantly from Ivica Olic to get his team back into the shoot-out after Juan Mata had missed the Premier League side's opening effort.

Cech had earlier saved a Bayern penalty from Arjen Robben in the first period of extra-time as the English side defied the odds once more.

Drogba's winning spot-kick was a fairytale ending for the 34-year-old Ivorian striker, who had been sent off in the final minutes of Chelsea's Champions League final defeat in Moscow four years ago.

"We have been doing this for years and years. There is a great spirit at the club, we never give up until the end," said Drogba.

"Today was just amazing. Even if they had scored their penalty in extra-time, Juan Mata said we can get another goal. We all believed."

Full-back Ashley Cole added: "We should have lost the game with the amount of chances they had."

"After we lost in Napoli (last 16 first leg), we thought if we can beat them at home then we have the luck and we can win the tournament.

"Even when Robben missed the penalty, we still thought we had time to get another goal and with Petr Cech in goal, we knew we could do it."

The win capped a rollercoaster season for Chelsea, whose campaign has been transformed since Roberto Di Matteo was appointed as interim manager in March following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.

Di Matteo has guided the club to a Champions League and FA Cup double in the space of a fortnight and is now favourite to land the job on a full-time basis.

Chelsea's victory - the club's first European crown and the first by a London team - also means they will qualify for next season's Champions League as tournament winners despite a poor league campaign.

But the loss left Bayern shattered as their dream of lifting their fifth European title ended in agony.

"We missed too many chances," admitted Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. "We played well over all and had the majority of possession.

"But we didn't know how to exploit our many opportunities and you have to use them or you will be punished."

A match Bayern had dominated went to penalties after a frenetic finish to normal time, with Mueller heading Bayern into the lead seven minutes from time only for Drogba to equalise in the 88th minute.

A dramatic start to extra-time then saw Bayern's former Chelsea winger Robben miss a penalty - saved by Cech - after Drogba had needlessly brought down Franck Ribery in the area.

For much of the match a Bayern victory had looked the likeliest outcome, with the Bundesliga giants revelling in the raucous support of their home fans.

Schweinsteiger was the first to set alarms off in the Chelsea back four, having his shot deflected behind by Gary Cahill after only three minutes.

Chelsea coach Di Matteo had sprung a surprise by handing a first Champions League start to youngster Ryan Bertrand in an effort to cut off the supply lines to Robben down the right flank.

However the wily Dutchman found space with ease in the eighth minute, cutting in from the flank and curling a shot over the bar.

The former Chelsea winger produced the best chance of the half on 21 minutes, teasing the ball past Jose Bosingwa to dart into the area. Robben's shot was low and hard, but Cech stuck out a leg and the ball cannoned to safety.

The closing stages of the half saw Bayern up the tempo and they carved out a string of openings that they could well have scored from.

On 36 minutes Ribery and Diego Contento combined down the left to send Contento racing away. The left-back whipped in an inviting cross but Mueller could only slash his first-time volley wide of the post.

The second half followed largely the same pattern as the first, with Bayern having a goal disallowed for offside by Ribery on 54 minutes.

The Germans were thwarted by some dogged Chelsea defending, with Cole saving the Londoners with a series of telling interventions.

It looked all over for Chelsea when Mueller headed in to put Bayern 1-0 up seven minutes from time. But Drogba had other ideas to set up the extra-time finale.

Chelsea looked to have squandered parity in the fourth minute of extra-time, when Drogba needlessly clipped Ribery to concede the softest of penalties from referee Pedro Proenca.

Once again though Chelsea's refusal to yield came to their rescue, Cech diving low to his left to thwart Robben's spot-kick with his legs as the tension rose to excruciating levels

The Japanese Morning Workout

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Manchester City win English Premier League title

LONDON: Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday after an incredible fightback which saw them score twice in injury time to beat QPR 3-2 and seal the title on goal difference.

City's dreams of a first title in 44 years appeared to be in tatters as 10-man Rangers led 2-1 after 90 minutes courtesy of goals from Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie following Pablo Zabaleta's opener.

But as Manchester United prepared to celebrate snatching a 20th league title following their 1-0 win at Sunderland, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero struck twice in two minutes to seal the most enthralling title duel in years.

"The last few minutes were incredible. This is for our supporters, they deserve this," City manager Roberto Mancini said.

"To win like this is incredible. I have never seen a finish like this.

"We had a lot of chances, we deserve to win this championship. It's fantastic. After 44 years I dedicate this to all our supporters. It's a crazy season, crazy last minutes."

Relieved City captain Vincent Kompany meanwhile admitted his nerves had been shredded by the frantic finale.

"I want to say it's the best moment of my life -- but please never again like today," Kompany said. "Miracles do happen in Manchester. Only this time it's on this side of the road."

After a nervy start, City took the lead five minutes from half-time through Zabaleta, the Argentinian fullback darting onto a deft through ball from Yaya Toure to shoot high into the net past Rangers keeper Paddy Kenny.

The goal sent relief coursing around Eastlands as City prepared for their championship party.

But Eastlands was stunned into silence shortly after half-time when a blunder by Joleon Lescott let in Cisse who raced clear and thundered an equaliser past Joe Hart.

Even then, the force still seemed to be with City, as QPR captain Joey Barton was sent off in an incident that defied belief.

The fiery midfielder was given his marching orders by referee Mike Dean for a retaliatory elbow on Carlos Tevez following an off-the-ball clash.

As Barton left the pitch, the midfielder then angrily kneed Aguero in the back of the thigh to leave himself facing a lengthy ban.

Yet incredibly instead of ramming home their advantage, City were left shell-shocked as 10-man Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute, Mackie heading in at the far post after Armand Traore's swift break from defence.

Amid unbearable tension, City looked set for a traumatic defeat until substitute Dzeko nodded in to equalise in the second of five minutes of injury time. Then, out of nowhere, Aguero skipped clear of the Rangers defence to spark bedlam at Eastlands with the most dramatic winner imaginable.

City celebrated but it was a different story at the Stadium of Light, where for a fleeting moment after the final whistle United's players believed they had done enough to retain their crown after Wayne Rooney's first-half goal completed a 1-0 win.

But then news of Aguero's late winner filtered through and United's players trudged off in disbelief having been all smiles just moments before.

"Nobody expected that. Everybody expected City to win, but they did it against 10 men for half an hour and with five extra minutes to help them," Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards.

"But I congratulate City on winning the league. Anybody who wins it deserves it, because it's a long haul. At the end of our game our players didn't actually know the results.

"Now, they're really disappointed, I'm glad to say. There's no other way they should be ... It wasn't our turn today."

QPR's fans celebrated meanwhile after the club's Premier League survival was ensured as Bolton could only draw 2-2 at Stoke.

In the other issues to be settled on Sunday, Arsenal clinched third place with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion while Tottenham sealed fourth place with a 2-0 win over Fulham at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham, however, face a nervous wait to see if they will advance to next season's Champions League.

A win for Chelsea in next week's final against Bayern Munich would see Spurs miss out. Chelsea warmed up for next week's final with a 2-1 win over relegated Blackburn.

Elsewhere Sunday, Newcastle's brave challenge for a top four finish ended in a 3-1 defeat at Everton which left the Magpies in fifth place.

Liverpool's disappointing season ended on a downbeat note with a 1-0 loss at Swansea.

English Premier League results

Chelsea 2 Blackburn 1
Everton 3 Newcastle 1
Man City 3 QPR 2
Norwich 2 Aston Villa 0
Stoke 2 Bolton 2
Sunderland 0 Man Utd 1
Swansea 1 Liverpool 0
Tottenham 2 Fulham 0
West Brom 2 Arsenal 3
Wigan 3 Wolves 2

Leadership And Management

Liverpool 2-1 Everton - FA Cup Semi-Final

 LONDON: Andy Carroll scored a dramatic late winner as Liverpool came from behind to defeat Merseyside rivals Everton 2-1 to reach the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

Carroll - the club's much-maligned 35-million-pound record signing - glanced in a Craig Bellamy free-kick in the 87th minute to keep Liverpool on course for a domestic cup double.

It was the second time in five days that Carroll had come to Liverpool's rescue after scoring an injury-time winner in the Premier League victory over Blackburn in midweek.

More importantly the goal ensured Liverpool have the opportunity to finish a disappointing season on a high in next month's final where they will face the winner of Sunday's last-four clash between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Carroll's decisive strike came after Liverpool had fought back to level through Luis Suarez on 62 minutes following Nikica Jelavic's opener for Everton.

"It's the best feeling ever," Carroll told ESPN. "I had a few chances earlier, but it was a great ball in from Craig (Bellamy) so I just had to score with that one.

"I've had some criticism but I've just kept on going. It's a great feeling."

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard added: "He (Carroll) doesn't hide and he takes criticism on the chin. That's what we bought him for, to score big goals, and he's delivered today."

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish hailed his side's achievement in reaching two Wembley finals following their triumph in the League Cup in February.

"I think it was fantastic and although it's not been too good in the league recently, that's two cup finals - one we've won and won we're looking forward to," Dalglish said.

"That gives everybody who supports Liverpool Football Club a lift. We're very proud and pleased that we're in the final."

Everton manager David Moyes said mistakes at crucial times had been his team's undoing, most notably when defender Sylvain Distin gifted Liverpool their equaliser midway through the second half.

"We were just beginning to get back in the game when obviously we made a mistake and that gave Liverpool a bit more impetus," Moyes said.

Liverpool had started well, with Glen Johnson surging forward menacingly after only three minutes to release Carroll.

The pony-tailed striker cut back deftly to Jay Spearing but the young midfielder should have done better than a shot which flew harmlessly over.
Liverpool chances thereafter were few and far between and while Dalglish's side often advanced into good attacking positions their forays invariably fizzled out because of poor play in the final third.

Everton meanwhile looked comfortable throughout the first period, mopping up Liverpool's attacks with ease and probing for openings.

On 24 minutes Liverpool were made to pay for their lacklustre opening as Jelavic pounced for his sixth goal since signing from Rangers in January.

Daniel Agger dithered over a clearance inside the area before Jamie Carragher attempted to scramble the ball to safety.
Carragher's intervention cannoned back off Tim Cahill and into the path of Jelavic who finished coolly to send the blue half of Wembley into raptures.

The anticipated response from Liverpool never came however and they struggled to test Everton through the remainder of the half, with an off-target, long-range Gerrard effort on 37 minutes their only attempt on goal.

It was a different story after the break however as Liverpool started with far more purpose.

Indeed they should have levelled on 47 minutes only for Carroll to send a downward header yards wide after a perfect cross from Stewart Downing.

Carroll buried his head in his shirt while Dalglish clutched his hands to his face in disbelief -- a response mirrored up in the stands by Liverpool's legendary No.9 tfrom the 1980s Ian Rush.

But just when it seemed Everton had withstood the early onslaught, Liverpool drew level on 62 minutes. Distin underhit his backpass to Tim Howard and Suarez raced through on goal before poking his finish under the American keeper.

The relief coursed through Liverpool's massed ranks of fans and they looked by far the likeliest side to score for the remainder of the game.

Carroll should have done better but dragged a low shot wide on 78 minutes while at the other end Jelavic briefly raised Everton hopes when his shot flew into the side netting.

Then with extra-time looming Everton substitute brought down Gerrard wide on the left flank.

Liverpool substitute Bellamy, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, chipped in a perfectly flighted effort and Carroll outjumped Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini to glance home.

 

 Dalglish urges fans to keep the faith

Monday, April 16, 2012 - 07:53 AM

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has urged the club’s supporters to keep their nerve as they plot a path back towards England’s elite.

The Reds are in line for a trophy double this term after booking an FA Cup final appearance at Wembley on May 5 with a 2-1 win over Everton at Wembley on Saturday.

Yet even that would not be enough to satisfy some critics, who point to Liverpool’s eighth-placed position in the Premier League as evidence that a £100m-plus outlay on the likes of Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson has not been particularly successful.

However, Dalglish is convinced his team are heading in the right direction, and wants the fans to keep the faith.

“We need to be confident enough in our own beliefs and the people who support us have to be strong in their knowledge that what we are doing is correct,” he said.

“This football club is a fantastic example to anybody else that wants to run a football club. When there is a wee bit of mud flying about we come together.

“That is the football club I used to know and that is the football club we are getting back to.”