Chelsea advanced to the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday despite losing 3-2 at Bayern Munich.
Chelsea conceded two late goals, but still advanced 6-5 on aggregate, having won last week’s first leg 4-2.
Frank Lampard, who scored two goals in the first game, put Chelsea ahead before Claudio Pizarro made it 1-1. Didier Drogba restored the visitors’ advantage before Paolo Guerrero and Mehmet Scholl netted to give Bayern a futile victory.
Bayern had its two top strikers, Roy Makaay and Pizarro, back in the starting lineup after injuries. But it was Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn who was first into action, rushing off his line to deny a second-minute effort by Didier Drogba.
At the other end, Ballack had a shot blocked and Cech stopped an effort by Pizarro. Bastian Schweinsteiger also broke through on the right after slipping the ball through the legs of William Gallas and faking John Terry, but shot wide.
Lampard then put Chelsea ahead after 30 minutes. He took a pass from Joe Cole and hit a shot that deflected off defender Lucio and went past Kahn. Chelsea had a goal in the first game too off a deflection by Lucio.
Bayern kept pressing, though, and Schweinsteiger had another effort just two minutes after Chelsea’s goal.
Chelsea’s German defender Robert Huth unwittingly created Bayern’s best chance just before halftime, when his headed clearance dropped in front of the unmarked Ballack, who missed the target.
Both teams had chances in the second half before Pizarro scored in the 65th.
Willy Sagnol’s cross was met by Michael Ballack. Although ‘keeper Petr Cech got his fingers on Ballack’s header, the ball bounced off the post and Pizarro tapped it in from close range.
Chelsea came under more pressure after Pizarro’s goal. Huth headed a cross by Bixente Lizarazu against his own crossbar, then Eidur Gudjohnsen cleared another Ballack header off the line.
But despite Bayern’s efforts, Drogba effectively sealed Chelsea’s advance in the 80th minute, heading in a cross from Cole.
Bayern then managed its late rally, but Felix Magath’s team was unable to produce another goal that would have sent the match into extra time.
It was the last Champions League game at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. Bayern moves to a new arena in less than two months.
As in the first leg, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho wasn’t on his team’s bench because of a ban for suggesting that FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard colluded with referee Anders Frisk at halftime in the previous round.
Mourinho was seen getting into a taxi outside the stadium just as the teams were coming onto the pitch, reportedly going back to Chelsea’s hotel. He had said earlier that he would be at the stadium. – Sapa-AP