Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Europe

Never mind tribal loyalties - we're all Chelsea fans now.

Somehow, despite being away from home, 2-0 down, one man down (thanks to a moment of madness from the captain) and facing one of the best European sides in many years, they find a goal, and are heading through to the final.

But the drama is far from over. All of that happened in the first half!

Early in the second half Barcelona get a (dubious) penalty, but Messi smashes it against the crossbar. For the next forty minutes it is one way traffic, but somehow the eleven men can't get past the ten. Chelsea keep on hoofing it clear, but there's never a white (away kit) shirt upfield to try to collect the ball, so it keeps on coming back.

Then, as we tick into injury time, one of the kick-it-anywhere clearances manages to find the substitute Torres, who has temporarily forgotten that he's supposed to be defending. Thankfully you can't be offside in your own half, which is just as well, as all bar the keeper are up for Barcelona.

Torres races forward, constantly looking over his shoulder wondering where the cavalry are, but its just him and the keeper. Time stands still, and the prayers of the fans are almost tangible - don't stuff this up Fernando.

And he doesn't. Whether surprised by the opportunity, or whether being on Spanish soil has reminded him of what he was once so good at, he knocks it round the keeper, hurdles the challenge, and slots it into the net.

Jubilation unbounded! Happy, happy days indeed!

Well done Chelsea.