Rattled Chelsea still standing

The 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on Wednesday added to the raw emotion and electrifying atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as Liverpool built a 2-0 lead,then trailed 3-2 before coming back to go 4-3 ahead with seven minutes left. Chelsea,without suspended skipper John Terry,scored a late equaliser through Frank Lampard,his second goal of the game.

We made it very hard for ourselves with our first half performance… but it was a great night,we are through. Its been a great tie, Lampard told ITV. I dont know what we did in the first half,we maybe approached the game in the wrong way,we thought we were almost through… but we showed our character at halftime to turn it round.

Coming all out

Needing at least three goals to give themselves a chance of saving the tie,Liverpool went 1-0 up after 19 minutes thanks to fine improvisation from Brazilian Fabio Aurelio. The defender shaped to sweep the ball across the line of defenders and to Liverpools waiting players,but instead fired into the gap that Chelsea keeper Petr Cech created by his near post as he was organising his defence. Cech desperately scrambled across but it was in the back of the net before he had a chance.

Serbian Branislav Ivanovic,who scored twice in the first leg,held Xabi Alonso to concede a penalty nine minutes later. Spaniard Alonso sent Cech the wrong way to make it 2-0 and 3-3 on aggregate.

Chelseas interim manager Guus Hiddink made a tactical switch in his attack with Nicolas Anelka replacing Salomon Kalou after 36 minutes but it made little difference in the minutes leading up to halftime. Undeterred,Chelsea hit back after the break with two goals in six minutes. Anelka crossed low from the right for Didier Drogba to get the finest of touches and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina could only divert the ball into his own net. Then on 57 minutes,Chelsea won a free kick and Brazilian Alex blasted a fierce shot past Reina.

Lampard put Chelsea 3-2 up with a low shot,but Lucas scored with a deflected effort and Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt headed in from close range to make it 4-3 to Liverpool and leave them needing one further goal to pull off a miraculous comeback.

Their hopes were ended a minute from time when Lampard produced a precise finish from Drogbas cross.

It was Liverpools second successive exit from the Champions League at the hands of Chelsea who beat them in the semi-finals last season. We are disappointed because to score four goals away in this game was unbelievable, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said.

Barcelona ease through

MUNICH: Barcelona eased into the semi-finals with a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich which completed a crushing 5-1 aggregate victory.

Bayern playmaker Franck Ribery grabbed the lead just after the break to restore German pride after they were demolished 4-0 in the first leg but midfielder Seydou Keita levelled in the 73rd minute with a long-range effort.