Chelsea and Jose Mourinho dare to dream of European glory once more after overturning a two-goal deficit to advance to the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain.
Mourinho raced down the touchline in celebration of substitute Demba Ba’s 87th-minute goal, which secured the 2012 winners a 2-0 win and a place in the last four for a seventh time in 11 years courtesy of Eden Hazard’s away goal in the first leg.
It was a scene reminiscent of Mourinho’s sprint at Old Trafford en route to his first European Cup success with Porto in 2004.
The trophy eluded the Portuguese during his first spell at Stamford Bridge, but he won it again in 2010 with Inter Milan and has another shot at glory four years on. Chelsea trailed 3-1 after the first leg, but were unbeaten since September at home and had kept eight successive clean sheets prior to the match.
Mourinho believed in his side and, when Andre Schurrle swept in after 32 minutes, the Blues needed one more goal and to stretch that defensive mean-streak by one more game.
Against a PSG strikeforce vaunted even without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic that was no easy task, but the defence held their side of the bargain as the attackers tried to fulfil theirs.
Mourinho had gambled on the fitness of big-game player Samuel Eto‘o, but was not banking on losing Hazard to injury after 18 minutes. Schurrle, the Belgian’s replacement, was anonymous in a ‘false nine’ role in the first leg, but thrived in the second, hitting the bar seven minutes into the second half.
Oscar struck the frame of the goal with a free-kick moments later and PSG had chances as Chelsea surged forward looking for the decisive goal.
It looked like it would prove elusive until Cesar Azpilicueta’s drive into the area fell for Ba to turn the ball into the net and spark delirious celebrations, led by Mourinho. Few Chelsea players seemed to enjoy a pulsating and disjointed opening.
The left wing is usually lively as it is Hazard’s domain, but much to the concern of the home faithful, the Belgian was subdued and soon limped off. The Blues had set-piece opportunities.
A Frank Lampard free-kick kicked up wickedly off the wall, forcing Salvatore Sirigu to turn the ball round the post. But he was beaten soon afterwards as his static defence watched David Luiz flick on Branislav Ivanovic’s long throw for Schurrle to sweep the ball into the bottom corner. Schurrle appealed in vain for a penalty moments later when he collided with Marco Verratti.
Chelsea maintained the intensity after the restart and went close when Oscar’s incisive pass found Willian. He pulled the ball back for Schurrle to strike a fierce drive which rebounded off the crossbar.
Lucas Moura fouled Eto’o on the left edge of the box for a free-kick in a dangerous position and Oscar’s curling strike also hit the woodwork. Ivanovic was adjudged to have fouled Blaise Matuidi on the left edge of the Chelsea box, earning a booking which rules him out of their next European match.
Lavezzi’s inswinging free-kick was clawed round the post by Petr Cech. Ba replaced Lampard with 24 minutes to go and flicked on for Schurrle, who shot straight at Sirigu. As Chelsea poured forwards, PSG had chances.
The best fell for Cavani, who fired over after controlling Yohan Cabaye’s 50-yard pass. Still searching a second, the much-maligned Fernando Torres was thrown into the fray, but it was Ba who emerged the unlikely hero.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Andre Schurrle
An injury to Eden Hazard may have seemed like a hammer blow for the Blues but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The brilliant German came on in the 18th minute and ran PSG ragged. He galvanised the hosts with the opening goal before rattling the bar with a magnificent strike.
MATCH VERDICT
Love him or loathe him, Jose Mourinho knows how to get the job done over two legs as his record of having never lost a Champions League quarter-final will testify.
There was nothing revolutionary about his changes, but when two substitutes get your goals the manager has earned his money. In contrast PSG were poor and Laurent Blanc’s gameplan negative. The French champions had Chelsea on the rack but came to defend and were punished.
