Wed, April 15, 2009
LONDON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea survived a huge scare before they drew 4-4 at home against Liverpool on Wednesday to reach the Champions League semifinals on an aggregate 7-5.
Guus Hiddink's team led 3-1 after the first leg at Anfield but Liverpool, without injured captain Steven Gerrard, had threatened to stage a thrilling comeback, opening a 2-0 lead after 28 minutes.
Liverpool were leading 4-3 eight minutes from time and needed just one more goal to complete a miraculous victory on away goals. However, Frank Lampard's late equalizer smashed the visitors' hopes and sent Chelsea into their fifth Champions League semifinals in six seasons.
Chelsea will next meet Barcelona, who drew at Bayern Munich 1-1to go through 5-1 on aggregate.
Rafael Benitez's side gave a swift demonstration of their determination, on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, as Fabio Aurelio smashed in his free-kick after 19 minutes and Xabi Alonso added a second from the spot.
While the opening goals made it 3-3 on aggregate and put Chelsea's dominance at stake, Hiddink responded with bringing on Nicolas Anelka for Salomon Kalou after 35 minutes.
His decision paid off after the break with two goals in six minutes. Anelka's low cross from the right was deflected by Drogbapast Liverpool keeper Reina, who could only parry the ball into his own net, seven minutes into the second half. Alex then drilled home a fierce long-range free-kick to restore an overall two-goal lead.
Lampard put Chelsea 3-2 ahead with a close-range finish but Lucas' deflected strike after 81 minutes was quickly followed by Kuyt's bullet header to make it 4-3 for the visitors.
Suddenly Liverpool were only one goal away from a turn of fortune, but the final goal fell to Lampard as his strike went in off both posts to send the Stamford Bridge into festive eruption.
