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Champions of Europe again

FernandoTorres

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset

Benfica 1 Chelsea 2: Ivanovic rises high in injury time to seal dramatic Europa League success for Benitez's Blues

By MARTIN SAMUEL
PUBLISHED: 20:39 GMT, 15 May 2013 | UPDATED: 23:30 GMT, 15 May 2013


Champions of Europe. You know what they are. The header looped back across Benfica’s six-yard box and goalkeeper Artur could only watch with mounting, helpless horror. Chelsea, an unstoppable force in European competition, had done it again. They had been outplayed and won. They were second best and would soon lift the trophy. The bright screens in the Amsterdam Arena had long shown that 90 minutes was up. There would be no revival, no brave comeback. There was no time. The goal celebrations, the post-match shindig, it all seemed to roll into one.So here we are again. Not quite as dramatic as Munich, maybe, but no less impressive for that. Not many teams can win the big matches in adversity like this. There is a special spirit within this team and it is being handed down, like folklore. Chelsea find a way to win. Chelsea refuse to lie down. Imagine what they would be like in a boxing ring.

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Champions: Chelsea lift the Europa League after beating Benfica in the final in Amsterdam

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On the continent: Chelsea added the Europa League to their Champions League success last year

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Boss: Rafa Benitez smiles as he lifts the Europa League trophy in Amsterdam


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Smiles: Frank Lampard gets his hands on the prize


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Safe hands: Petr Cech lifts the trophy


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Hero: Branislav Ivanovic's header in injury time sealed a 2-1 win and European glory for Chelsea

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Late but great: Ivanovic's looping header back across goal provided a dramatic finale in Amsterdam

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Embrace: Chelsea manager Benitez hugs chairman Bruce Buck

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Vantage point: Ivanovic sits on the crossbar


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Young ones: John Terry celebrates with his children


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Party time: Chelsea's players celebrate with their trophy on the Amsterdam ArenA pitch

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Devastation: Benfica supporters can't hide their emotions after their heartbreaking defeat


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We've done it: Chelsea celebrate at full time


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Joy: Lampard fires up the Chelsea crowd


MATCH FACTS

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Almeida, Luisao, Garay (Jardel 78), Melgarejo (John 66), Perez, Matic, Rodrigo (Lima 65), Gaitan, Cardozo, Salvio.
Subs Not Used: Paulo Lopes, Aimar, Urreta, Gomes.
Booked: Garay, Luisao.
Goals: Cardozo (pen) 68.

Chelsea:
Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Lampard, Luiz, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Torres.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Mikel, Moses, Ferreira, Marin, Benayoun, Ake.
Booked: Oscar.
Goals: Torres 59, Ivanovic 90.

Att:
53,000.

Ref: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).

Referee Bjorn Kuipers played about a minute more and blew the whistle, bringing the night to its inevitable conclusion.The red shirts stood in the centre circle devastated. They had been the better team. Everyone knew it. Little did they know, their role was an irrelevance. This was Chelsea.This was something beyond anybody’s control. Branislav Ivanovic’s header at the far post summed up the resilience of this team. Imposing, powerful, perfect in the way it eluded Artur and everybody else packed into that penalty area to defend Juan Mata’s corner. Ivanovic missed last season’s Champions League final, suspended, harshly some felt. This was justice, of sorts.The mockers say Chelsea have no history, but that is a lie. Chelsea have some damn fine history and more was made on Wednesday night.

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Breakthrough: Fernando Torres gave Chelsea the lead just before the hour mark in Amsterdam


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Well taken: Torres rounded the goalkeeper before sliding the ball into the net from a tight angle


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They are the first club ever to hold both European crowns at the same time, even if the biggest one, the Champions League is theirs for ten more days only. With Wednesday night’s victory, Chelsea also become one of only four European clubs to have won all three UEFA titles, including the now defunct European Cup-Winners Cup. Juventus, Bayern Munich and Ajax are the others. Good company, that. Good history, too. And that means Rafael Benitez is part of Chelsea history now, too, whether the locals like it or not.

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Delight: Torres celebrates his goal before being mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates

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This has ended up a good season in difficult circumstances, Champions League football now guaranteed and Europe’s lesser trophy secured. Benitez took over when Chelsea’s defence of their European title was as good as done, so winning this was the next best thing. It is his fifth international prize as a manager — as well as the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. Undoubtedly, his CV has been enhanced with this result, even if not every aspect of his tenure has been 100 per cent successful, as he claims.

At any other club he would be given a contract. This being Chelsea, he’ll just be given a lift to the nearest station after the game with Everton. Unless Roman Abramovich truly is balking at the compensation clause for Jose Mourinho and fancies taking on the whole of Stamford Bridge every Saturday by giving Benitez a permanent deal.

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Back on terms: Oscar Cardozo fired home from the penalty spot to pull Benfica level


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It is a pity for Benitez, who is pilloried for statements he never made and positions held in the distant past.

Football is a results business and Chelsea got their result. Benitez stuck with his starting XI – he didn’t have too many others fit – and it came through for him. As did his man, the number nine. Fernando Torres finally delivered the bang Roman Abramovich hoped he was getting for his 50 million bucks.

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Brief: Chelsea's lead lasted less than 10 minutes before Cardozo's equaliser

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Reaction: Lampard looks on as Benfica celebrate their equaliser at the Amsterdam Arena

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Final act: Ivanovic had the final say with a late header to win the match for Chelsea in Amsterdam


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He wanted a goalscorer who defined matches, who scored the big ones when it mattered.

Torres has rarely been that for Chelsea but on Wednesday night he scored the vital first, against the run of play. It was his goal on the break, his 21st of the season, that gave Chelsea an unlikely march on Benfica. Torres repaid the faith shown in him by Benitez and came good, just in time to say goodbye. It wasn’t the finest of goals. It was route one with a bit of Fred Karno thrown in, but the record books will state Torres (59 mins), no more.

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Jubilation: Chelsea celebrate Ivanovic's last-gasp goal in front of their delighted travelling fans

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Petr Cech, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, leathered a long ball down the middle. Mata went for it and missed. Not a dummy, just a cock-up, but it was enough to fool Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay and let Torres in. Suddenly, he was speeding through with Benfica frantic. Captain Luisao came across but missed his tackle. Now only goalkeeper Artur remained. Torres drove right to take it around him and looked to have been caught, but he soldiered on and the ball ran clear.

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Face full: Benfica's Rodrigo brushes Azpilicueta aside with a strong hand off

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No luck: Torres appeals for a penalty, but his shout was turned down by the referee


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We want Mourinho: Chelsea fans make their feelings clear as to who they want as their next manager


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Punched away: Benfica's goalkeeper Artur Moraes is forced into a smart save to deny Frank Lampard


He finished across his body, right-footed, as Garay’s despairing lunge fell short. With Benfica on top for much of the game, it was no surprise that the lead held for a mere seven minutes. Cesar Azpilicueta was Chelsea’s culprit, jumping with his arms outstretched to block a header from Eduardo Salvio and give referee Kuipers no option bar a penalty award.

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Double team: Nemanja Matic and Ezequiel Garay stop Torres in his tracks


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Tussle: Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta tries to beat Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan to the ball


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Pressure on: Benfica's Eduardo Salvio is chased down by Torres


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Blues boss: Benitez issues instructions to his Chelsea team


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Not involved: Chelsea captain Terry watches from the stands


Striker Oscar Cardozo stepped up, began his run, dithered slightly, stopped, started, went again and finally struck it with power, slightly left of centre. Cech dived the wrong way. It was no more than Benfica deserved. Yet Chelsea have been second best in a final before. It rarely makes a difference to the outcome. For those who remember Munich, the game was a little like that. There was a team in red and a team in blue and the team in blue got murdered for long periods. In the first half Benfica were superior in every way, defending resolutely, over-running Chelsea in midfield and creating chances.

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Glory: Ivanovic leads the celebrations on the pitch with the Europa League trophy

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Following in the footsteps: Ramires' son scores a goal during Chelsea's victory lap

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Respect: Luisao and Benfica manager Jorge Jesus walk through a Chelsea guard of honour


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Despair: Benfica players look devastated as they watch Chelsea's celebrations


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Joining in: Chelsea supporters celebrate with their team after the dramatic finish


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Wise words: Benitez speaks to Nathan Ake


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Super Frank: Chelsea legend Lampard celebrates


Yet this is a club that had lost its last six European finals. They last lifted a European trophy in 1962. Chelsea lifted one less than a year ago. Perhaps that is what showed as the minutes ticked by. If anything, Benfica got too close. At times, it was like watching Arsenal at their most infuriating, incredible tippy-tap football in the penalty area, but no-one brave enough to chance a shot. Cardozo, Salvio, Rodrigo, Nicolas Gaitan, all had their moments. It wasn’t even that Chelsea held firm much of the time. Cech made some fine saves, Ashley Cole a good block, but Benfica were wasteful.
They snatched at chances, nervous and wild or over-elaborate.

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Boss: UEFA President Michel Platini enjoys himself sitting next to ex-Benfica player Eusebio


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Chatty man: Edwin van der Sar talks to Chelsea's techincal director Michael Emenalo


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Guest: England manager Roy Hodgson was in the stands at the Amsterdam ArenA


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Blue is the colour: Chelsea supporters wave team flags and show their support

Chelsea were more controlled, particularly Frank Lampard, who hit the bar in the second half and forced a superb save from Artur just before half time. And it was Lampard who lifted the trophy — with John Terry in full kit by his side, naturally — as the blue shirts bounced and celebrated, not for one second caring that this was the club with no history and, after Sunday, no manager, which often appears to be fighting itself as much as everyone else.

For put them on a pitch, with a trophy in view and something special happens. Champions of Europe. They know what they are.

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We know what we are: A Chelsea fan shows off his 'Champions of Europe' replica shirt


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Scene: The teams line up as the Amsterdam ArenA gets set for the action to commence


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Entertainment: Dancers perform during the opening ceremony before kick off


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Ultras: One Benfica fan cheers his team on topless as a flare is let off


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Prize: Benfica supporters show off a banner of the Europa League trophy before kick off


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Back home: Benfica fans cheer on their team from Lisbon


 

FernandoTorres

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset



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Benfica 1 - 2 Chelsea



 
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