Pro Eleven Headline News
Iniesta stuns Chelsea
Andres Iniesta scored in the 93rd minute for 10-man Barcelona as the Spanish side earned a dramatic 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal, earning themselves a spot in the final on away goals.
After a scoreless first leg in Spain, it looked like Chelsea would return to the final as Michael Essien's brilliant volley in the ninth minute gave the Blues a 1-0 lead, while Barca's Eric Abidal was sent off in the 66th minute.
However, one away goal by Barca would be enough to send them through, and the moment arrived three minutes into stoppage time as Lionel Messi squared the ball to Iniesta at the top of the box and he sent a rocket curling past goalkeeper Petr Cech and into the top right corner.
There was still a bit of time remaining and a Chelsea corner kick allowed Michael Ballack to send a volley towards goal that struck the armpit of Samuel Eto'o, prompting the Chelsea players to scream for a penalty that never was given.
Barcelona will now advance to the final on May 27 in Rome, where they will meet defending champions Manchester United.
The first half looked a lot like the first leg as Barcelona dominated the possession while Chelsea defended well in the final third.
However, unlike last Tuesday's match at the Nou Camp, it was the Blues who created the better chances.
The first goal of the semifinal arrived after 99 minutes of play, or nine minutes into Wednesday's game.
It was the first good chance for either side and it came from nothing as Frank Lampard tried to play a low cross to the middle of the box, only for it to be deflected by Barca's Yaya Toure.
The ball fell into the path of Essien, and he hammered a perfect volley from 25 yards that skimmed the bottom of the crossbar before settling into the back of the net.
It was a stunning strike and it appeared to take the air out of Barca, which was fortunate to not concede a second goal midway through the half.
Florent Malouda raced down the left wing, and as he got to the edge of the box, he was pulled down by Dani Alves, who could have been called for a penalty. Didier Drogba then stepped up to the free kick and curled a shot from a tight angle that was deflected past the far post by the leg of goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
The ensuing corner kick also came close to giving Chelsea a second goal as Lampard's cross was nodded just past the left post by John Terry.
Drogba then had a penalty appeal turned down minutes later when he made a good run into the box and got inside of Abidal, who appeared to grab the striker on his way to the ball.
Chelsea was getting the better of the play on the counter attack, while Barca put together a few half chances near the end of the half, but was let down by poor shooting.
Drogba could have made it 2-0 shortly after the break when he took a pass from Nicolas Anelka inside the area, cut back past a Barca defender and had only the keeper to beat from 10 yards. However, his shot was turned away the leg of Valdes, keeping the visitors within a goal.
However, the match took a big turn for the worse in the 66th minute for the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men when Abidal was sent off for a foul on Anelka, who was attempting to get in on goal after a flick from Drogba.
Barca had a look at goal in the 78th minute with a 25-yard free kick, but Alves fired high, while Chelsea was unlucky not to get a penalty kick when it appeared that Gerard Pique handled the ball inside the box in the 81st minute. Sports Network
Bremen must overcome 1-0 deficit against Hamburg in UEFA Cup play
Hamburger SV has a 1-0 lead from the first leg of the UEFA Cup semifinal at Werder Bremen, but knows that may not be enough even though it plays the return leg at home.
So far, the two northern German rivals have won one match apiece in their four-match series in three competitions over 19 days.
"For us, it's the match of the year," Hamburg striker Ivica Olic said of Thursday's UEFA Cup match.
Werder won a penalty shootout at Hamburg in the German Cup semifinal, when goalkeeper Tim Wiese stopped three shots from the spot.
Hamburg then won the UEFA Cup match in Bremen.
After Thursday's return leg in Hamburg, the two teams head to Bremen for their Bundesliga showdown on Sunday.
After losing the German Cup semifinals, Hamburg has also slipped behind in the Bundesliga and is in danger of missing out in all three competitions unless it can overcome Werder on Thursday.
Hamburg has not won a title in 23 years and under first-year coach Martin Jol it was in the running for three. Now, the UEFA Cup looks like its best bet.
In the second semifinal, Shakhtar Donetsk hosts Dynamo Kyiv with the two Ukrainian clubs tied 1-1 after the first leg.
Hamburg will be bolstered by the expected return of striker Mladen Petric, who has been out for two weeks, because of a cut on his shin.
Petric has scored 20 goals for Hamburg this season and plays well alongside Olic, Hamburg's second Croatian striker. Another striker, Paolo Guerrero, is suspended.
Defender Axel Silva is nursing a thigh injury but Jol expects him to be fit.
Hamburg's Bundesliga title hopes took a hit Sunday with its 1-1 draw at home against Hertha Berlin, but Jol remains upbeat.
"Things are going good, it's May and we have only important games left. It's the best for a player," he said.
Werder expects to have midfielders Diego and Mesut Oezil back after they missed the 1-0 league loss at Cologne. Both were officially listed as injured, Diego with back problems and Oezil with knee trouble, but many suspect they were rested. Coach Thomas Schaaf, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary in charge at Werder, denied that was the case.
Striker Hugo Almeida is still doubtful though after suffering a cut on his leg in the first leg in Hamburg. Defender Petri Pasanen is definitely out.
The home side was sitting back and defending well as the game entered stoppage time, but Essien quickly went from hero to goat as his poor clearance handed the ball to Messi, who set up Iniesta's fantastic goal. Canadian Press
