register to 888sport
888sport time:

Results Based News

Blues edge Reds in thriller

Author: Rose Young
Date: 15/04/2009

Liverpool and Chelsea played out a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues edged through to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Reds were trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield and despite missing injured inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, who was not even among the substitutes, they came within a whisker of causing a massive upset with sportsbook.

They led 2-0 at half-time and only a second-half fightback from Chelsea swung the tie back in their favour.

The first goal arrived after 19 minutes and it came courtesy of some intelligent play from Fabio Aurelio. The Brazilian was lining up a 35-yard free-kick when he spotted Petr Cech committed to one side of his goal.

Aurelio then impudently stroked the ball into the uncovered corner of the goal to leave Cech stranded.

Referee Luis Medina Cantalejo then took centre stage as he awarded Liverpool a penalty following a similar free-kick. Replays showed Branislav Ivanovic had his arms wrapped around Xabi Alonso and the Spain midfielder picked himself up to coolly slot home the spot-kick.

Chelsea finally responded in the early stages of the second period as Didier Drogba reduced the deficit when he got his foot to substitute Nicolas Anelka's hopeful cross and Pepe Reina could only turn the ball into his own net.

It was 2-2 on the night five minutes later when Alex stepped up and smashed a 25-yard free-kick over the wall and past a helpless Reina.

Chelsea maintained the initiative and Frank Lampard's first goal on 76 minutes, when he slipped a close-range shot under the body of Reina after Drogba cut the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box, looked to have killed off Liverpool's challenge.

However, Lucas with a deflected shot and then a bullet header from Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool back in front 4-3 on the night.

The Reds needed just one more goal to snatch the most unlikely of aggregate victories, but the impressive Lampard was to have the last word.

The England midfielder was the calmest man on the pitch as he dispatched a first-time shot from 16 yards in off the far post to level the tie at 4-4 on the night and secure a dramatic 7-5 aggregate victory.

Next up for Chelsea will be Barcelona, who eased past Byaern Munich 5-1 on aggregate.

Leading 4-0 from the first leg, Barca secured a 1-1 draw in Germany thanks to a superb Seydou Keita goal 17 minutes from time in the Allianz Arena.

Franck Ribery had given the home side the lead on the night shortly after the restart.

Andy Murray made a winning start at the Monte Carlo Masters, seeing off Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2 to reach round three, but there were defeats for sixth seed Gilles Simon and ninth seed Gael Monfils.

Frenchman Monfils lost 6-3, 6-1 to Janko Tipsarevic before compatriot Simon was beaten 7-5, 6-1 by Andreas Beck.

online betting