"We have conceded a lot of late goals recently so I think we deserved to get one ourselves," said Chelsea coach Avram Grant. "I hope we will say next week that this was an important goal. It was a game without many chances – typical for a semi-final. They had one or two and we did too. But a 1-1 draw away from home is always a
good result."
The Israeli said, Anfield is a very difficult place to play. But is not easy for visiting teams to play at Stamford Bridge either. "We also have good supporters. Both goals tonight came from mistakes. I felt we had control of the game until we made a mistake and they scored. Petr Čech was unlucky for the goal but he did well and made one very good save – but that's Petr, we're used to it.
"I think this result gives us an advantage but I know it will be another tough game next week. From day one I knew that Chelsea needed to be in the Champions League final. The 1-1 draw hasn't promised us a place in the final but it's a great result and a big step for us. The final is in Moscow but I think Roman [Abramovich, Chelsea's Russian owner] would be just as happy for us to play it in Mongolia.(*)
Avram Grant: We Deserved
Benítez: difficult to understand
"It is difficult to understand what happened," said Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez, after the dramatic ending in first leg UEFA Champions League semifinal "There were 94 or 95 minutes on the clock. I was really surprised and of course very disappointed with the own goal – these kind of bouncing balls are very difficult to deal with."
The reaction in the dressing room afterwards, said The Spaniard in uefa.com, was one of great disappointment. "The only thing we can do now is be positive and think about the next game. We now need to go there and win. It's not easy to create chances in these games but we had three clear chances to score and I am disappointed we did not take them.
"We have to change our mindset now and be positive for the return at Stamford Bridge. My confidence is based on watching the team today. We were on top for a lot of the game – especially at the start of the second half. With a bit of luck we can do it [reach the final]."(*)
Riise Gifts Chelsea An Equaliser
There was huge late drama at Anfield in a tense game in which fluent football was at a premium. It looked like it was going to be shaded by Liverpool, whose first half goal by Dirk Kuyt gave them a narrow advantage until, in the 95th minute, John Arne Riise gifted Chelsea an equaliser with a headed own goal in their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Riise, who has not scored for Liverpool all season, stooped low to try to clear Salomon Kalou's cross from the left, but his awkward header flew past Pepe Reina and into the top of the net – giving Chelsea an away goal they had virtually given up on getting. It could have been so different for Liverpool, had visiting goalkeeper Petr Čech not spectacularly tipped over a late Steven Gerrard drive before denying Fernando Torres seconds before the equaliser.
Chelsea, who at times looked ragged, thus have a priceless away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge. They had had some earlier chances to equalise, but Liverpool might also have scored again.
The dramatic way in which it ended leaves the tie intriguingly balanced - but just in Chelsea's favour now.
A scrambled goal by Dirk Kuyt towards he end of a tense, tight first half at Anfield put Liverpool in the driving seat in a Champions League semi-final first leg that Chelsea started the stronger. But the Blues allowed the Reds to come more and more into it and Rafa Benitez's side deserved their first half lead.(*)
source: uefa, and goal
photo: gettyimages
Again, Chelsea Meet Liverpool
Chelsea FC secured their fourth UEFA Champions League semi-final berth in five seasons, thanks to another of the small goals and then Michael Ballack Frank Lampard's nerve settle second with three minutes remaining against Fenerbahçe SK.
This is the third time in four years, the couple have achieved English for the past four of the competition, but it is increasingly belief in Stamford Bridge that could ultimately prove to be the year of Chelsea.
Chelsea's desire to eradicate their goal of a disadvantage was evident from the outset, and they had a huge lift in the fourth minute when Ballack put them at the aggregate level. A free kick from Lampard found the Fenerbahce dreaming and defense Germany captain glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.
But in the 25th minute, Chelsea's Kazakhstan crisis plunged to new depths when Cudicini reported to the bench that he could not continue, and came on Hilario. Fenerbahce took the opportunity to try to unnerve the Portuguese four minutes later when Semih Senturk sent to 20 yards wide only to drive his right hand upright.
But Chelsea wrapped the tie-up with three minutes of normal time remaining when Michael Essien cross of the house has been transformed by Lampard from close range. However, some of the gloss was taken off their victory when Essien has shown a yellow card - a crime that it rules out of the first leg against Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Chelsea struck the icon of the house for nearly you to death after Michael Ballack gave the Blues the lead from the outset, heading home a free kick which was flighted by Lampard himself.
The Blues have a good value for their win on two legs, but has received a lot of criticism following their loss of Turkey and their inability to produce screens quite as dominants that are expected by the fans and the media.
Lampard has brought honour to their quarterfinal opponents, but he insisted there is more to come from his side, as they now face Liverpool, surprisingly, for the third time in four years in Champions League semi-finals.
"It was difficult, credit to Fenerbahce they made it very difficult for us and has a chance," admitted Lampard.(*)
photo: GettyImages
Wenger: Penalty, it's a bad decision
Arsene Wenger was furious with referee Peter Frojdfeldt Ryan Babel after a penalty-shot won the match against Liverpool on his side.
Wenger, clearly emotional in the wake of his side the Champions League elimination, could not understand why Liverpool's Ryan Babel received a penalty.
"It's a bad decision, I think, the referee, but there was still a lack of concentration in the immediate aftermath, he went 2-2. They found in the box of Babel straight from kickoff, and that's where the concentration dropped a little.
"The punishment decisions made the difference, I do not know - I think we have to live with that, and for seven, eight weeks in football, we have to swallow sometimes, which is not swallowed, but and this is how we must live with Who at the moment.
"It is very difficult for me to understand, but we must also accept that and accept that in a game like that in which we had so much control, we were too naive, and we lacked a little maturity defensive."
But midfielder Ryan Babel saying after the game, is it a penalty.
"I think so, yes. It kept me a little and tried to take the chance of me. At the end, I did not have the opportunity to reach the ball. If they take that away from me, I think it was a penalty. "
Photo: GettyImages
Liverpool move forward
Liverpool move forward to face Chelsea Reds edge Arsenal in six-goal thriller Liverpool FC stormed into the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four years, after a superb finish. The game has three goals in eight minutes and a disappointing end to the Arsenal FC for the campaign.
Liverpool waits on the road to victory as goals from Sami Hyypiä and Fernando Torres, destroying's Abou Diaby 13rd minute opener, had let them enter the first final minutes.
Emmanuel Adebayor turned the tie on his head with six minutes remaining after a sensational run from Theo Walcott, but Arsenal's away-goal advantage is fleeting Steven Gerrard converted a penalty moments later before Ryan Babel completed the scoring in added time. He left home in raptures, and yet they were quietened soon as visitors started positively 1-1 after the first leg draw in London.
Adebayor seemed particularly threatening and attacking of Arsenal was richly rewarded when Diaby broke in the right channel, Aleksandr Hleb gathered weak passwords and fired in the direction of Pepe Reina near post. The goalkeeper seemed to have covered, but the ball cannoned off his knee and into the net.
Sammy Hyypiä escaped the attention of Philippe Senderos to meet Gerrard center with a head. Anfield Liverpool broke and grew in confidence. Liverpool set about changing that, and after the restart, Arsenal are no longer the dominant force
It was only the beginning of the drama. Arsenal briefly get in pole position when Walcott sprinted past four players before departure to Liverpool Adebayor. One minute later, the initiative was torn Arsène Wenger at the team Kolo Toure was deemed to have brought Babel and Gerrard converted from the spot. Substitute Babel then calmed frayed nerves two minutes into extra time, racing on the counter-clear and slide the ball past Almunia to cap an incredible evening.(*)
Giallorossi need something of a miracle
Rodrigo Taddei says that the Roma have to give 200 percent if they want to have any chance of advancing past Manchester United in the Champions League tomorrow night.
The Giallorossi need something of a miracle Old Trafford at the end of their first leg 2-0 quarter-final defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
"Those of us who have come to Manchester have to be focused and not try to give 100% to 200% but to allow us to move forward, which is our goal," said Taddei.
"We are aware of the difficulty of our task will be. We have an unsatisfactory result against us and we are facing a great deal away from the house.
"If the odds are not already play against Roma, they were again hit by the news that talismanic captain Francesco Totti will not be fit to return to the party.
"Totti is a top player and it can not be denied," conceded Taddei.
"But we had to play without him already this campaign and we took important results.
"It is understandable that others may find in the absence of Totti excuse for the defeat.
"But we know that the defeat against Manchester United in the opening leg comes from the fact that we did not make use of our chances to score." (*)