Atletico set up all-Madrid final
3 May 2014 5:14 AM IST
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, former Atletico striker Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead in the 36th minute at Stamford Bridge, but the London club were to lead the tie for only eight minutes.
Adrian Lopez scrambled home an equaliser shortly before half-time and second-half goals by Diego Costa, from the penalty spot, and Arda Turan sealed Atletico’s place in their first European Cup final since 1974.
Diego Simeone’s team are also two wins from claiming a first La Liga title in 18 years, meaning that they could be looking to complete an improbable double when they meet their old foes Real in Lisbon on May 24. It will be the first European Cup final between two teams from the same city.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, was denied a reunion with his former employers Real, with whom he had also experienced semifinal disappointment in each of the previous three seasons. The pre-match build-up had been dominated by talk about Chelsea’s ultra-defensive display in their 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday and Mourinho seemed determined to continue in the same vein by selecting three full-backs.
Fears of a new-fangled defensive configuration proved unfounded, as Cesar Azpilicueta was deployed as a fairly orthodox right-sided midfielder, but the early stages proved every bit as cagey as last week’s first leg.
Koke almost gave Atletico a fourth-minute lead with a mishit left-wing cross that deceived Mark Schwarzer and hit the crossbar, but the teams were generally content to hold each other at arm’s length. The tie was on a knife-edge, but nine minutes from half-time Chelsea seized the initiative. After Willian ran into a blind alley on the right flank, Azpilicueta followed up with a low cross that Torres steered past Thibaut Courtois via a deflection off Mario Suarez.
The former darling of the Vicente Calderon made a point of not celebrating, holding his hands in the air in apology, but Stamford Bridge celebrated with abandon. It was the first goal Atletico conceded in seven games, but within the blink of an eye they were in control of the tie.
Former Chelsea midfielder Tiago Mendes picked out right-back Juanfran with a floated pass to the back post and his volleyed cross bobbled between a phalanx of defenders to Adrian, who swept home. Despite Chelsea’s need for goals, it was Atletico who began the second half on top, with Schwarzer brilliantly tipping over a Turan half-volley and then fielding a low effort from Tiago.
Mourinho then sent on Samuel Eto’o in place of Ashley Cole but the Cameroon striker’s contribution was to prove telling. Costa was braught down by Eto’o after the former skilfully nicked the ball past him as the referee awarded a spot-kick. Costa made no mistake with his shot, placing the ball into the top-left corner. Turan then killed the tie in the 72nd minute by tucking home after his own header came back off the bar.
Mourinho rues Courtois friendly fire
LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left to rue the performance of the club’s own goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after their Champions League semifinal elimination by Atletico Madrid. Belgian international Courtois, 21, has been on loan at Atletico from Chelsea since 2011 and he produced a save in Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge that Mourinho identified as the key moment in the tie.
‘The difference was one minute in the second half, where the Atletico goalkeeper makes an impossible save from John Terry’s header. Instead of 2-1 for Chelsea, a few seconds later there is a penalty, which I’m happy people tell me was a penalty, and they scored to go up 2-1. That minute was crucial. After that, they had complete control and we had the feeling the game was lost. They had the feeling the game was in their hands and after that they were very solid, very mature, a real team. I knew before they were a real team, and I congratulate them,’ said Mourinho,
Courtois was making his first appearance at Stamford Bridge. ‘He’s the Atletico goalkeeper, he plays for Atletico, and he did his job,’ the coach added.
Adrian Lopez scrambled home an equaliser shortly before half-time and second-half goals by Diego Costa, from the penalty spot, and Arda Turan sealed Atletico’s place in their first European Cup final since 1974.
Diego Simeone’s team are also two wins from claiming a first La Liga title in 18 years, meaning that they could be looking to complete an improbable double when they meet their old foes Real in Lisbon on May 24. It will be the first European Cup final between two teams from the same city.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, was denied a reunion with his former employers Real, with whom he had also experienced semifinal disappointment in each of the previous three seasons. The pre-match build-up had been dominated by talk about Chelsea’s ultra-defensive display in their 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday and Mourinho seemed determined to continue in the same vein by selecting three full-backs.
Fears of a new-fangled defensive configuration proved unfounded, as Cesar Azpilicueta was deployed as a fairly orthodox right-sided midfielder, but the early stages proved every bit as cagey as last week’s first leg.
Koke almost gave Atletico a fourth-minute lead with a mishit left-wing cross that deceived Mark Schwarzer and hit the crossbar, but the teams were generally content to hold each other at arm’s length. The tie was on a knife-edge, but nine minutes from half-time Chelsea seized the initiative. After Willian ran into a blind alley on the right flank, Azpilicueta followed up with a low cross that Torres steered past Thibaut Courtois via a deflection off Mario Suarez.
The former darling of the Vicente Calderon made a point of not celebrating, holding his hands in the air in apology, but Stamford Bridge celebrated with abandon. It was the first goal Atletico conceded in seven games, but within the blink of an eye they were in control of the tie.
Former Chelsea midfielder Tiago Mendes picked out right-back Juanfran with a floated pass to the back post and his volleyed cross bobbled between a phalanx of defenders to Adrian, who swept home. Despite Chelsea’s need for goals, it was Atletico who began the second half on top, with Schwarzer brilliantly tipping over a Turan half-volley and then fielding a low effort from Tiago.
Mourinho then sent on Samuel Eto’o in place of Ashley Cole but the Cameroon striker’s contribution was to prove telling. Costa was braught down by Eto’o after the former skilfully nicked the ball past him as the referee awarded a spot-kick. Costa made no mistake with his shot, placing the ball into the top-left corner. Turan then killed the tie in the 72nd minute by tucking home after his own header came back off the bar.
Mourinho rues Courtois friendly fire
LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left to rue the performance of the club’s own goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after their Champions League semifinal elimination by Atletico Madrid. Belgian international Courtois, 21, has been on loan at Atletico from Chelsea since 2011 and he produced a save in Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge that Mourinho identified as the key moment in the tie.
‘The difference was one minute in the second half, where the Atletico goalkeeper makes an impossible save from John Terry’s header. Instead of 2-1 for Chelsea, a few seconds later there is a penalty, which I’m happy people tell me was a penalty, and they scored to go up 2-1. That minute was crucial. After that, they had complete control and we had the feeling the game was lost. They had the feeling the game was in their hands and after that they were very solid, very mature, a real team. I knew before they were a real team, and I congratulate them,’ said Mourinho,
Courtois was making his first appearance at Stamford Bridge. ‘He’s the Atletico goalkeeper, he plays for Atletico, and he did his job,’ the coach added.
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