Memorable advance to the final
Adrián, Diego Costa, with a penalty, and Arda Turan overcome Fernando Torres’ goal to brush Chelsea aside and seal the passport to Lisbon’s final.
CHELSEA 1 – 3 ATLÉTICO DE MADRID
Chelsea: Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Andy Cole (Etoo, 53’); Ramires, David Luiz; William (Schürrle, 78’), Hazard, Azpilicueta; and Fernando Torres (Demba Ba, 66’).
Atlético de Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Mario Suárez; Koke, Adrián (Raúl García, 66’), Arda Turan (Cristian Rodríguez, 83’); and Diego Costa (Sosa, 76’).
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italia). Booked the local Cahill (31’); and the visiting Diego Costa (59’), Adrián (64’).
GOALS:
1-0. 36’. Fernando Torres shoots from inside the box a centre from Azpilicueta and scores after hitting Mario Suárez.
1-1. 44’. Adrián shoots into the net an assist from Juanfran inside the box.
1-2. 60’. Diego Costa converts the penalty from Etoo on himself.
1-3. 72’. Arda Turan pushes into the net his own header that hit the bar.
EVENTS: Champions League semifinals second leg. Stamford Bridge Stadium. Around 42.000 spectators with about 3.000 Atléticos on the stands, who never stopped cheering throughput the match. Atlético de Madrid played with their usual red and white shirt, shorts and red socks. A respectful minute of silence was held before the fixture started in memory of Tito Vilanova, who had been Barcelona’s coach, and of Vujadin Boskov, who had been coach, amongst others, of Real Madrid, Zaragoza and Sampdoria.
Magnificent fixture with a sublime Atlético de Madrid, who knew how to play Chelsea at their home and ended up thrashing them. Fernando Torres opened the scoreboard, Adrián tied before the interval and Diego Costa and Arda Turan sentenced in a second half that was an Atlético de Madrid lesson.
Atlético de Madrid came out to play convinced of their possibilities at Stamford Bridge’s field. Diego Pablo Simeone’s disciples were facing one of the most important matches in their respective careers and were aware of the importance. Supported by their, once again, spectacular fans, the first moments glimpsed this could be Atlético’s night. Koke almost surprised Schwarzer in minute 4, with a midfield shot that brushed the bar first and the left pole afterwards, to be cleared later.
Chelsea didn’t create much danger in the first half. Barely two occasions, one from David Luiz in a spectacular bicycle kick that brushed the woodwork, and the goal, produced by the Spanish players. Azpilicueta assisted Fernando Torres with a ball that el Niño didn’t spare, not without the involuntary help of Mario Suárez. Torres did not celebrate the goal he scored to ‘his’ Atlético. Mourinho thought he had the match where he wanted… Huge mistake.
This Atlético de Madrid is destined for the epic deeds. They’ve done it in this competition before in Oporto, getting back into the game in Do Dragao, or in Milán or at Camp Nou. And the man of the day was Adrián. No one had bet on his being in the line-up and was the author of the equaliser, the goal that put our team ahead in the qualifying round. The man who scored in Saint Petersburg once again tied at Stamford Bridge. A goal that’s worth its weight in gold.
In the second half, our team took the field determined to solve the match. History had to be made in a Premier stadium. Arda Turan could have scored the 1-2 at the beginning of the second act, but Schwarzer saved it sending it to a corner. Chelsea had to open up after a header from Terry, which was answered to by a brilliant Courtois. Etoo entered and five minutes after being on the field, he awarded a penalty kick to Diego Costa, which the Spanish-Brazilian converted into the 1-2.
The fixture and the qualifying round were in our reach. Arda Turan signed this incredible match from Atlético de Madrid with a goal that renders justice in the global qualifying round. Lisbon was waiting for us at the end of the road. 40 years later, another Champions final. And, as in that 73-74 edition, without losing a game. Spanish final against Real Madrid. The King’s Cup final from last season is repeated, but in the Champions.