What a season it’s been for football. First the dramas at Manchester for the English title decider and now Chelsea displays a masterclass performance full of grit and never say die attitude to finally hand Roman Abramovich his first Champions League title since taking over the club in 2002.
Bayern Munich was definitely the better team throughout and I was Whatsapping Jeremy and Sonti feverishly discussing about what’s going on in the match and I told Jeremy that for some weird reason, I think Chelsea was going to win. He was gunning for Munich to beat Chelsea so his beloved Spurs could play Champions League football next season.
And when Thomas Muller scored in the 86 minute, it seemed like all was going well for Jeremy’s Spurs and Bayern Munich. Muller was substituted off for defender Van Buyten soon after and it was clear Munich wanted to protected their lead for the last couple of minutes for the match.
By this time, Torres was brought on for Kalou by Chelsea and the 50 million pound striker did well to win a corner for the Blues.
Mata swings the corner in and Drogba powered a header past the flapping Neuer in the 88th minute. Game on!
Torres had been getting much flack since moving from Liverpool last year but his form has been improving in the last couple of months and his most telling contribution to this match was winning Chelsea’s FIRST corner in contrast to Munich’s 15 corners.
All Chelsea needed was for Torres to win their 1st corner in the 88th minute for Drogba to score. 50 mil well spent. #ChampionsLeague
— Alvin Ng(@alvinng) May 19, 2012
It must now seem silly of Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes to take Muller off and when the camera was on Muller looking bewildered at the turn of events, it certainly brought back memories of the 1999 final when Lothar Matthaus was substituted off and having the same look after Manchester United staged one of the greatest comebacks to snatch the title from within Munich’s grasp.
Chelsea didn’t manage quite a similar comeback but with Drogba’s goal, brought the game into extra time and boy was more drama to come.
Early in the first half of extra time, Drogba, hero for Chelsea so far, brought Ribery down in the Chelsea box and Munich was award a penalty. It seem like that was the end of the road for Chelsea but when Cech stepped up to save Robben’s penalty, a sense of self belief swept through the entire Chelsea team.
They held on through the second half of extra time and the match went into penalties.
Ivan Olic and Sebastian Schweinsteiger missed their penalties and Drogba took Chelsea’s last penalty to win the cup for the Blues and send the stadium into raptures.
I’m absolutely delight for Chelsea and even though Bayern Munich played the better football, their inefficiency with their finish definitely cost them the match.
