Chelsea Riise to the occasion at the death

BEIJING, April 23 -- Chelsea snatched a Champions League lifeline as Liverpool defender John Arne Riise's last-gasp own goal allowed Avram Grant's side to escape with a 1-1 draw from Tuesday's semi-final first leg.

Liverpool had dominated after taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt just before half-time at Anfield but they failed to press home that advantage.

Petr Cech produced three superb saves to keep out Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and Chelsea were able to make Rafa Benitez's team pay in the final minute of stoppage time when Riise headed into his own net.

Benitez was understandably devastated by the late goal.

"It is really disappointing," admitted the Spaniard.

"An own goal at the end of the game, it really is a blow. We had the better chances but Petr Cech was pretty good at stopping them.

"They are a strong team but we are a good one. Next week we must play for the full 90 minutes like we did tonight (Tuesday) and just stick to our task."

Cech said that Chelsea had deserved the rub of the green after being at the wrong end of two semi-final exits in the last three years by Liverpool.

"We think we have been quite unlucky in the last semi-finals against Liverpool," said the Czech stopper, who has returned to action earlier than expected after having 5-0 stitches inserted in his face following a training ground incident.

"We got a lucky goal but to be fair the way we played we deserved it," he added.

After suffering semi-final exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons, the Blues will have left Merseyside feeling luck was on their side at last.

They lost to Luis Garcia's 'phantom goal' in 2005 and were beaten on penalties last season.

Now, bolstered by a precious away goal their tepid display hardly deserved, Chelsea will believe they can avenge those bitter memories and finish the job at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

It was fitting that a tie with so much enmity propelling the participants should take place to the backdrop of the power struggle between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Hicks had been advised to stay away for his own safety but defiantly took his place in the Anfield directors box.

The crowd's frenzied passion didn't inspire many fireworks on the pitch early on though. Goals are at a premium whenever these obdurate sides meet in Europe and it was a typically tentative start.

(Source: China Daily/Agencies)