Advertisement
EMPICS Sport
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Atletico Madrid, Champions League semi-final

Chelsea took on Atletico Madrid, as they sought to secure their place in the final.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.

Chelsea 1-3 Atletico (aggregate score: 1-3)

Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

Here are the teams…

CHELSEA: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole, Ramires, David Luiz, Azpilicueta, Hazard, Willian, Torres.

Subs: Hilario, Kalas, Van Ginkel, Oscar, Schurrle, Ba, Eto’o.

ATLETICO MADRID: Courtois; Godín, Filipe Luís, Juanfran, Miranda; Mario Suárez, Tiago; Adrian, Koke, Turan; Diego Costa.

Subs: Aranzubia; Alderweireld, Raúl García, Cristian Rodríguez, Sosa, Diego, Villa.

Britain Soccer Champions League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(An Atletico Madrid fan poses for pictures on a statue at the base of Nelson’s Column in central London’s Trafalgar Square.)

RTÉ’s resident Spanish football expert Eamon Dunphy reckons Juanfran is Atletico’s main weakness.

He also says Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s best chance of a goal and an assist.

The panel are backing Atletico to go through tonight.

I’m pretty sure Dunphy also backed an “all Madrid final” a few months back.

We’re underway…

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Stamford Bridge PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(The Champions League Trophy that did a tour down the Fulham Road and past the tube station before the UEFA Champions League match at Stamford Bridge.)

Koke’s looping cross-cum-shot hits the bar and is cleared.

That’s an early let-off for Chelsea.

Irrespective of formations, both sides have started this game in a conspicuously cautious manner.

Chelsea play a free-kick short to Ramires and he’s tripped on the edge of the box for a free kick.

This is a good chance for Chelsea…

Willian curls his free kick just over the bar.

It’s been a solid enough start Chelsea, bar that one moment following Koke’s unusual attempt.

Diego Costa finds some space in the box, but Gary Cahill recovers after giving the ball away initially to block his shot.

Atletico are beginning to enjoy a good spell of pressure of late.

A long throw is fired into Chelsea’s box and David Luiz produces a well-executed overhead kick that goes just wide.

This game is very finely balanced at the moment, though Chelsea are starting to gain the upperhand.

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Stamford Bridge PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(Chelsea during a minute’s applause in memory of Tito Vilanova and Vujadin Boskov prior to kick-off.)

Some people might call it boring, others will say this…

Gary Cahill is booked for a late tackle on Diego Costa. The England defender can’t really have any complaints judging by replays.

John Terry gets a good defensive header away from the ensuing free kick.

GOAL FOR CHELSEA!

Chelsea 1-0 Atletico: Willian and Azpilicueta link up well down the right and the latter crosses to Torres, whose heavily deflected shot finds the back of the net (36 mins).

The Spaniard refuses to celebrate after scoring against his former club.

GOAL FOR ATLETICO!

Chelsea 1-1 Atletico: Eden Hazard falls asleep and loses his man, who crosses to Adrian, and the Spaniard makes no mistake with his finish, slotting the ball home confidently.

As it stands, Atletico are going through!

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 ATLETICO

Here’s how that Adrian goal looked:

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Stamford Bridge EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

(Former Argentina player Diego Armando Maradona [centre left] watches from the stands.)

The second half is underway…

Turan wriggles free in the box and Schwarzer does well to parry his shot over.

Atletico have been noticeably boosted by that goal just before the break.

Courtois makes a good save from a strong John Terry header, after a free-kick is dangerously flighted into the box. Their best chance to score might well be on set pieces.

Meanwhile, Eto’o has replaced Cole, as Chelsea look to adopt a more attacking approach.

PENALTY FOR ATLETICO!

Chelsea 1-2 Atletico: Clumsy challenge from Eto’o, as Diego Costa falls over, with the ref hesitating before pointing to the spot.

Costa makes no mistake with the penalty (60 mins).

There was a considerable delay before that penalty was taken, with Koke complaining about the pitch and getting booked for his troubles.

Gary Neville makes a good point on Sky, saying he’s surprised that Mourinho went attacking early in the game.

Here’s a look at that Costa penalty.

Lopez is replaced by Garcia for Atletico, while Ba comes on for Torres for Chelsea.

Just after the goal, David Luiz had a chance to get Chelsea back into the game.

Willian’s excellent delivery is met by the Brazilian’s head, yet his effort hits the post amid noticeable panic in the Atletico box.

GOAL FOR ATLETICO!

Atletico 3-1 Chelsea: Hazard loses his man Juanfran and crosses to Turan (70 mins).

His initial header hits the woodwork, but it comes back to him, and he makes no mistake with the second attempt.

Here’s that Turan goal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have made their final change, with Schurrle replacing Willian.

Chelsea look like they know the game is gone.

Atletico are now dominating and controlling possession. They’re more likely to get a fourth than Chelsea are to threaten a comeback.

If this game ends 3-2, Irish punter Niamh Gilleece could be about to get her second consecutive Champions League prediction right.

She says she didn’t bet on it this time though.

Unsurprisingly, the game has hit a bit of a lull as it approaches the dying stages.

Less than a minute of normal time remains…

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Stamford Bridge PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(Chelsea’s John Terry and Eden Hazard stand dejected late in the game.)

Hazard wriggles through on goal but Courtois gets down well to save.

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-3 ATLETICO MADRID

Right, that’s all from me for now.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.

The Irishwoman who made THAT Bayern-Real bet last night>

Spanish police arrest man suspected of throwing a banana at Barcelona’s Dani Alves>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
82
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.