Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 1 (aet, Chelsea win 4-3 on pens): Drogba and Cech deliver holy Grail for Abramovich
By ROB DRAPER
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The season that defied credibility for Chelsea reached an epic, extraordinary climax on an early summer's night in Bavaria. Didier Drogba, with what may be his last kick for the club, struck a penalty to the right of Manuel Neuer and won the Champions League trophy for the west London club.
And so ended the nine-year odyssey that began when Roman Abramovich took over this club and transformed European football. Perhaps it wasn't the swaggering team he might have imagined. No matter. The mental strength, resilience and defiance of these players produced something extraordinary this season.
At last: Chelsea raise the Champions League Trophy for the first time in their history after Didier Drogba's penalty (below) sealed victory in Munich
Match facts
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Tymoschuk, Contento, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Robben, Muller (Van Buyten 86), Ribery (Olic 97), Gomez. Subs not used:Butt, Petersen, Rafinha, Usami, Pranjic.
Booked: Schweinsteiger.
Scorer: Muller 83.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Kalou (Torres 84), Mikel, Lampard, Bertrand (Malouda 73), Mata, Drogba. Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Ferreira, Sturridge.
Booked: Cole, Luiz, Drogba, Torres.
Scorer: Drogba 88.
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).
Attendance: 69,901.
So many times this club has been finished, their season seemingly over, their Cup campaign in tatters.
Even in the penalty shoot-out they looked finished, Juan Mata missing the club's first spot-kick.
Phillip Lahm, Mario Gomez, the goalkeeper Neuer had given Bayern a 3-2 lead, with David Luiz having responded for Chelsea. But then came a superb right-handed save from Petr Cech from Ivica Olic, allowing Ashley Cole to level the scores.
Up stepped Bastian Schweinsteiger for Bayern but the German hesitated, struck it tentatively and the ball hit a post.
So the moment was made for that almost ancient warrior Drogba. At 34, destiny demanded and he responded. The Ivorian, already a Chelsea legend, has elevated the club to unthinkable heights.
The moment of victory: Chelsea celebrate a remarkable European triumph as Didier Drogba performs an impromptu dance (below)
Just as Liverpool defied the odds in 1984 and conquered Roma in their own Olympic Stadium to win the European Cup, so Chelsea had come to Bayern's home ground and prevailed.
Never had it seemed likely. The moment Bayern felt sure their destiny had arrived at their own final came on 83 minutes. Toni Kroos found an inch of space to lift a teasing cross over Ashley Cole and David Luiz, to where Thomas Muller rose high and headed firmly down past Cech's flailing arms.
No chance: Manuel Neuer failed to stop didier Drogba's bullet header, with David Luiz grabbing his team-mate in celebration (below)
Seconds later, somewhere in the penalty area Muller disappeared under a pile of Bayern Munich bodies and it felt as if the entire Allianz Arena had joined the embrace.
As so often this season, there seemed no way back for Chelsea. They had produced little worthy of note, had been utterly stifled in attack and the Cup seemed lost. Only when Mata lined up an 88th minute corner did those travelling fans raise voices of hope, for there had been precious little to encourage them.
Missed opportunity: Arjen Robben saw his weak penalty saved by Petr Cech in extra-time
Yet the little Spaniard drilled the type of near post corner about which Drogba must dream. The striker darted away from his unfortunate maker, Jerome Boateng, brushed aside a further brace of red shirts closing in and thrust his head at the ball to direct into the near top corner.
Behind that goal, on the North Tribune where the Chelsea fans had amassed, there was an astonished roar of relief and ecstasy.
Deadlock broken: Thomas Muller stoops to nod past Petr Cech
So to extra-time. Chelsea should have been in the ascendant but three minutes in as Drogba helped out in defence, he swiped a leg at the evasive Franck Ribery. It was a clear penalty and another moment where Chelsea's Champions League dream appeared to be slipping away.
Yet, in the time it took to remove the injured Ribery from the pitch, the mind of Robben wandered and he directed his strike at a nice height to Cech's left, the goalkeeper parrying the ball and then collecting. Bayern pressed on but now were seemingly in shock.
Clearing his lines: Petr Cech takes no chances with a Bayern corner
In the second period, substitute Olic looked to be about to win the game, but instead of finishing appeared to attempt a cross, which Kroos could not reach.
Cahill, first, and then Luiz contrived to deny Gomez on 111 minutes but by now it was a high risk game of chance, tired legs and weary souls susceptible to catastrophic errors.
Holding on: Petr Cech denies Bastian Schweinsteiger
It was not the type of game Bayern would have chosen. For, as befitted a team with threequarters of a stadium bedecked in red and willing them on, they had been the alpha males of the tie, with Chelsea subservient throughout.
After some early jabs, Robben had been the first to unleash a direct punch at Chelsea, way back in the 21st minute, swaying past two defenders and striking hard to the left-hand corner, where Cech saved with his right foot, the ball clipping a post. On 36 minutes, Ribery, who would prove a constant menace, fed Diego Contento who pulled the cross back for Muller to volley wide.
No way through: Jerome Boateng thwarts Didier Drogba
In brief moments, Chelsea sprung from their defensive shape. Frank Lampard fed Salomon Kalou, whose shot from 18 yards forced the first save of the night from Neuer. They were rare excursions though.
Bayern spurned even better chances. First, a Ribery miskick presented Gomez with the ball six yards out but he scuffed wide.
On the chase: John Mikel Obi attempts to steal the ball from Mario Gomez
Then, on 42 minutes, he executed a delightful turn on Cahill to create a clear strike but lifted his head and sent the ball soaring into the stands.
Increasingly, the Allianz Arena began to resemble the Nou Camp with one side urged on by impatient fans, the other content to absorb all that was thrown at them.
Clash: Jerome Boateng and Didier Drogba lie prostrate after an aerial collision
Mikel and Cole were outstanding, Lampard too marshalling his team. And after the setback of Muller's goal, Drogba and Cech stole the glory.
Watching brief: Suspended Chelsea captain John Terry observed matters from the stands
In attendance: Roman Abramovich watches Chelsea in Munich
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2146874/Bayern-Munich-1-Chelsea-1-aet-Chelsea-win-4-3-penalties--Drogba-delivers-Holy-Grail-Abramovich.html#ixzz1vNIjLWnP
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