It’s here. The Champions League Final. Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea. European Soccer’s Super Bowl. Like the American game, this may not be the two best teams, but these two teams had to beat the best to get here. Both Bayern and Chelsea have iconic generations of players. For them, this will be about legacy and redemption.
John Terry penalty miss champions league 2008 inter Milan vs Chelsea
John Terry Penalty Miss Champions League Final... by kokoretsiEuropean Cups - Champions League |
00:37 | May 19 |
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Pen. | Bayern Munich | 1 - 1 | Chelsea * |
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International - Club Friendlies |
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FT | Melbourne Victory | 1 - 4 | Olympiakos Piraeus |
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74' | America de Cali | 1 - 2 | Atletico Madrid |
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England - League Championship Play-Off |
23:37 | May 19 |
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FT | Blackpool | 1 - 2 | West Ham U. |
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Italy - Serie B |
00:37 | May 19 |
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FT | Verona | 3 - 0 | Varese |
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Spain - Segunda Division |
| May 19 |
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FT | Almeria | 2 - 0 | Alcorcon |
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FT | Celta de Vigo | 4 - 0 | Alcoyano |
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FT | Elche | 2 - 3 | Guadalajara |
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FT | Girona | 3 - 1 | Cordoba |
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FT | Huesca | 1 - 0 | Cartagena |
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FT | Las Palmas | 2 - 0 | Hercules |
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FT | Villarreal B | 2 - 0 | Recreativo Huelva |
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Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties
Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena to win the Champions League for the first time.
Thomas Mueller's late header put Bayern on the brink of victory on home territory but Didier Drogba levelled things up with a bullet header at the death before coolly converting the decisive spot-kick.
The tournament which gave Chelsea their greatest agony when they lost on penalties to Manchester United four years ago in Moscow had now delivered the greatest glory in their 107-year history.
Juan Mata missed Chelsea's first penalty but David Luiz, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were all successful. Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer were all on target for Bayern.
The momentum shifted decisively when Cech denied Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger hit the post to leave Chelsea on the brink and present Drogba with his moment of destiny.
Champions League final shoot-out as it happened
- Phillip Lahm (Bayern) scored 1-0
- Juan Mata (Chelsea) missed 1-0
- Mario Gomez (Bayern) scored 2-0
- David Luiz (Chelsea) scored 2-1
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern) scored 3-1
- Frank Lampard (Chelsea) scored 3-2
- Ivica Olic (Bayern) missed 3-2
- Ashley Cole (Chelsea) scored 3-3
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern) missed 3-3
- Didier Drogba (Chelsea) scored 3-4
He was calmness personified as he rolled the ball past Neuer to spark wild scenes of elation among Chelsea's players, staff and supporters.
Suspended captain John Terry joined the celebrations and lifted the trophy alongside Lampard but it was Drogba who was the hero, running the length of the pitch swirling his shirt above his head in triumph, as owner Roman Abramovich looked on as Chelsea finally claimed the prize he craved above all others.
The questions will now start about the future of interim manager Roberto di Matteo - who has given the Russian what he wanted after so many painful failures, including that defeat on penalties to Manchester United in the rain of Moscow in 2008.
And it is hard to see how Drogba, now 34 but still able to produce the brilliance that defines big occasions, can be allowed to walk away as his contract reaches its conclusion.
This was a victory in the mould of Chelsea's semi-final win against Barcelona, built on resilience, discipline, defensive organisation and nerve at the crucial times and done without the suspended Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles.
Abramovich will leave the big decisions for another day, but this was a night he and his club have desired since he walked into Stamford Bridge nine years ago - and achieved with an interim manager he had to appoint after sacking his personal choice, Andre Villas-Boas.
Terry was locked in conversation with former England coach Fabio Capello at pitchside before kick-off, the defender looking ruefully around the magnificent arena as he contemplated missing out because of his red card in Barcelona.
Di Matteo delivered a surprise in his starting line-up, with youngster Ryan Bertrand handed a role on the left flank in front of Cole in an attempt to stifle the threat of former Blues winger Arjen Robben.
Chelsea's blanket of defensive defiance served them well in the Nou Camp - and acted as a dress rehearsal for a first half spent almost entirely in their territory.
And while Chelsea were organised and resolute, they were also grateful that Bayern striker Gomez's touch in front of goal deserted him at decisive moments.
Group A
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No movement 1 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 5 | 13 |
No movement 2 | Napoli | 6 | 4 | 11 |
No movement 3 | Man City | 6 | 3 | 10 |
No movement 4 | Villarreal | 6 | -12 | 0 |
Group B
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No movement 1 | Inter Milan | 6 | 1 | 10 |
No movement 2 | CSKA Moscow | 6 | 1 | 8 |
No movement 3 | Trabzonspor | 6 | -2 | 7 |
No movement 4 | Lille | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Group C
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No movement 1 | Benfica | 6 | 4 | 12 |
No movement 2 | FC Basel | 6 | 1 | 11 |
No movement 3 | Man Utd | 6 | 3 | 9 |
No movement 4 | Otelul Galati | 6 | -8 | 0 |
Group D
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No movement 1 | Real Madrid | 6 | 17 | 18 |
No movement 2 | Lyon | 6 | 2 | 8 |
No movement 3 | Ajax | 6 | 0 | 8 |
No movement 4 | Din Zagreb | 6 | -19 | 0 |
Group E
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No movement 1 | Chelsea | 6 | 9 | 11 |
No movement 2 | B Leverkusen | 6 | 0 | 10 |
No movement 3 | Valencia | 6 | 5 | 8 |
No movement 4 | Genk | 6 | -14 | 3 |
Group F
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No movement 1 | Arsenal | 6 | 1 | 11 |
No movement 2 | Marseille | 6 | 3 | 10 |
No movement 3 | Olympiakos | 6 | 2 | 9 |
No movement 4 | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | -6 | 4 |
Group G
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No movement 1 | Apoel Nicosia | 6 | 0 | 9 |
No movement 2 | Zenit St P'sbg | 6 | 2 | 9 |
No movement 3 | FC Porto | 6 | 0 | 8 |
No movement 4 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | -2 | 5 |
Group H
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No movement 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 16 | 16 |
No movement 2 | AC Milan | 6 | 3 | 9 |
No movement 3 | Plzen | 6 | -7 | 5 |
No movement 4 | BATE Borisov | 6 | -12 |
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