Chelsea denied Liverpool the glory of another sensational European
comeback to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 7-5
aggregate win.
Liverpool, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield, stunned the
Blues with two first-half goals from Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso,
who scored a penalty.
Chelsea's defensive frailties, exposed so clinically by Bolton
in the Premier League at the weekend, looked like costing them a
place in the last four as Liverpool, without their talismanic midfielder
Steven Gerrard, threatened to pull off another miracle.
But the Blues looked home and dry after producing a sensational
comeback of their own - scoring three times in the second half to
lead 6-3 on aggregate at one stage.
Yet this incredible contest took another twist when Liverpool scored
twice in as many minutes through Lucas and Dirk Kuyt to leave them
just one goal adrift of an incredible victory.
However, Frank Lampard's second in the 89th minute secured a 4-4
draw on the night and a date with Barcelona.
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