And it could have been so different had Edinson Cavani, who missed several chances a week ago, not blasted over just 10 minutes before Ba’s strike. They would gloriously labour that point over the weeks that followed.But that was then, this is now. But no Chelsea fan will care about the aesthetic quality of the buildup, only that Ba was able to get ahead of Maxwell and hook the ball into the net. "And then theres that rather heavy front three that PSG have, even without the giant swedish ego himself. Go.The away section has been full for two hours already, apparently. "In the first leg the result was completely fake," says Mourinho, before wibbling on about Pastore's third goal for a while. Every scenario we had a gameplan and once again we got it right. Still, the signs were not promising for a memorable comeback in the early stages at Stamford Bridge. Instead of the world’s costliest strikers, it was one likely to be cast aside in the summer who stole the headlines. His replacement Yohan Cabaye was familiar with the Stamford Bridge surroundings and, with 14 minutes remaining, the former Newcastle midfielder brilliantly supplied a chance that should have seen the tie wrapped up. “But at the same time we have got remember that the women’s game is progressing and the fans are following. A group of PSG’s “ultra” supporters had earlier caused damage at the stadium before being escorted away from the ground and Chelsea’s manager, Emma Hayes, admitted she is hoping no Chelsea supporters will be dissuaded from making the trip to the French capital for the second leg next Wednesday as a result.“I don’t think we should discourage anyone from going,” she said. With that comes the same level of scrutiny. It sounds like Chelsea is to Boston something very much like Watford is to London. Very generous of you. We proved we're a team." Hannah Blundell and Erin Cuthbert’s goals gave Chelsea a 2-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against PSG after armed visiting fans were turned away by … Chelsea-PSG (2-0) : résumé et buts en vidéo. Really, it's just showing off. So the players knew what to do. "I am currently staying in Chelsea," writes Ian Copestake. But Jose Mourinho threw caution to the wind, sticking all three of his much-maligned strikers onto the pitch. Hasn't played there much for Chelsea, now his big chance.The players are out, anthems played, hands shaken and adverts broken. Neutral as I am at all times, obviously, I'm not accustomed to rooting for Chelsea, but everyone loves a good comeback, surely?Even PSG's Twitter account is flasher and swankier than anyone else's. I'm sure Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Eto'o are up for it, but barring some sort of bizarre French-based defensive collapse, Chelsea to win by two and not concede? Think I know who's going to assert dominance there over 90 minutes," writes Gary Wraith. But it does look quite nice:It looks like the Paris St-Germain team have driven all the way from Paris – and their most famous injured player was with them.In London tonight to stand for the boys. Moments later Oscar did likewise with a well-struck free-kick that had the PSG goalkeeper beaten.Verratti, a fine player but too often caught on the ball, was wisely substituted soon after. Not a classic game, but certainly a memorable one for the.Mourinho has been reflecting on his team's "deserved" victory:I wasn't celebrating. "That desire, that togetherness. Twice in a matter of seconds Sirigu’s bar was rattling. From there it was far from pretty, as Cesar Azpilicueta’s shot deflected through a host of bodies. pointofinformations Michael Moore. They played pure counter-attack, no ball possession, closing everything, and it was difficult for us to penetrate. First, after the again susceptible Marco Verratti lost possession, Schurrle crashed a shot against the crossbar from Willian’s cutback. PSG came from behind twice to take revenge for last season's quarter-final exit at the hands of Chelsea - showing great character to play for the last hour of … I think we did enough in the beginning of the second half to score before, but we couldn't. A very Pulis-era-Stoke-style goal, but a goal all the same – a long throw from the right, David Luíz flicks on, and Schurrle sidefoots in from eight yards!Hazard going off a big blow to Chelsea, but Schurrle in his best role on the left. "Admittedly it is the slightly sketchy environs of Chelsea, Boston, but I still feel inclined to give the poor underdog some support." I ran to tell Fernando and Demba the changes we had to do, because still three minutes plus extra time, and playing the way we were playing it was too risky. Le Paris Saint-Germain s'est incliné, mardi 8 avril, sur le terrain de Chelsea (0-2), et est donc éliminé de … The euphoric reaction of the whole Chelsea team as well as their coach Mourinho, who in trademark fashion, sprinted down the touchline, demonstrated the spirit and highlighted the resolve which will make Chelsea such a tough out in this season’s competition.Demba Ba is swamped by his Chelsea teammates after scoring a decisive late goal against Paris Saint-Germain.Chelsea 1-0 Paris Saint Germain (Goal Andre...Burn calories and exercise instead of burning out while you work from home,This Microsoft Excel Course Will Make You Computer Maven of Your Office,This Real Estate Tool Can Predict the Best Properties to Invest In,US Economy To Recover Only When People Feel 'Safe' From Virus: Powell,Apple Chief Says Fires And Storms Show Impact Of Climate Change,Reasons Why Microsoft Acquired Bethesda Game Studios,NASA Plans For Return To Moon To Cost $28 Billion,US Declares New York City, Seattle, Portland Anarchist Jurisdictions. Another striker who Chelsea will likely be keen to see the back come the season’s end, Torres, played his part in the buildup, contesting a header to help keep an attack alive. Admittedly, Schurrle, as he was to prove, was hardly a meager replacement.Before the German’s moment came a fantastic save from PSG keeper Salvatore Sirigu to keep out a deflected free-kick from Frank Lampard. Last modified on Fri 21 Aug 2020 15.46 BST.Goals from Hannah Blundell and Erin Cuthbert gave Chelsea real hope of reaching the last four of the Champions League for the second season in succession but their success was marred by a group of visiting Paris Saint-Germain supporters armed with weapons who were turned away from the ground by police before kick-off.One person was arrested for possession of Class A drugs in dramatic events not usually associated with women’s club football, with police later confirming that they had confiscated knives and knuckledusters when they searched the fans’ coach. Kirby was summoned five minutes into the second half as a replacement for Ji So-yun as Hayes switched to a 4-2-3-1 and the change almost had the desired effect immediately as the England forward broke free but dragged her shot wide.The Canadian international Ashley Lawrence served notice of PSG’s threat on the break when her curling effort was well saved by Chelsea’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. We worked a lot all week on scenarios. “We’re always competitive and we’re always progressing – this team is much further ahead than it was 12 months ago, regardless of our league position,” said Hayes.Sponsors queue up behind fans in huge week for women’s football | Eni Aluko,Euro 2020 qualifiers and a game-changing week – Football Weekly Extra.PSG fans light flares and smoke bombs outside the stadium after the Women’s Champions League match.Erin Cuthbert of Chelsea scored her team’s second goal. From a long throw-in from the right, David Luiz was able to head on and Schurrle was left completely free 12 yards out, as Lucas Moura watched on, to finish decisively low into the corner.PSG now looked rattled and further poor defending by the visitors from balls into the box could have seen Chelsea two goals to the good before the break. I wanted Demba to play in front of the defenders, and Nando to defend Maxwell. "We showed what Chelsea are made of," said Roberto di Matteo that night. This, for example, is how Chelsea tell the world who's in their team:Chelsea team v PSG: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; David Luiz, Lampard; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.And this is what PSG do. "That belief is what we need. Olivier Echouafni’s side are two points behind the reigning European champions, Lyon, in the French league, a competition their rivals have won 12 times in succession. It was a bit of a slow start, which is typical of Chelsea this season, and it did nothing to settle the nerves. ",Demba Ba: "I just do what I do when I get chances. On this occasion, though, Gary Cahill sliced a clear chance wide. Instead Mourinho has reached the Champions League semifinals for the eighth time in 11 seasons. More action is imminent.Nobody thinks Chelsea should have had a penalty. And if we believe, hopefully we can perform. Chelsea twice struck the crossbar in quick succession in the second half, adding to the sense that it just wasn’t to be this time around. "Re: Ian Copestake's "slightly sketchy environs" – Chelsea, Massachusetts is a separate city located just north of Boston, so it is not accurate to say that he is in "Chelsea, Boston!" All rights reserved.Chelsea snatch place in semi-finals thanks to last-gasp Demba Ba goal,Demba Ba tells José Mourinho: Chelsea do have great strikers,Champions League: Chelsea v PSG - in pictures,Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain: key clashes in the quarter-final,Chelsea's direct and simple football was too much for Paris Saint-Germain,Pictures: Tom Jenkins's best images from Stamford Bridge,surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Juventus. And it was the forward who has been most left out in the cold this season who came to Mourinho’s rescue with a desperate close-range finish. "In tonight's instalment of "Battle of the Bridge", we've got 35-yr old Lampard & comedy's David Luiz versus the rather tough looking Matuidi, Motta, and (less tough looking) Verrati. They will be formidable opponents on home turf in the second leg despite Chelsea finding a way through twice after that, unless, of course, they follow the example of the men’s side against Manchester United earlier this month.The first seemed to come from nowhere as Blundell cut in from the right to curl home a sumptuous effort with her weaker foot in the 73rd minute before Bachmann and Kirby combined to set up Cuthbert’s goal late on. Somehow, I just don't think so. Paris native Demba Ba broke the hearts of French champions Paris Saint-Germain and became the unlikely hero for Chelsea with an 87th minute goal to send his side through to the Champions League semifinals amid dramatic scenes at Stamford Bridge.Despite Andre Schurrle’s first-half strike, PSG’s 3-1 win in Paris last week appeared that it would be enough to see them advance. Having repeated the comeback they produced against Napoli en route to taking the trophy in 2012, Chelsea will again feel there may just be a sense of destiny once more about their run.While Chelsea have undeniable failings in their squad, their ability to keep fighting to pull out a result is arguably unmatched across Europe. In any ordinary game I'd agree, but in this one, with the referee basically blowing his whistle every time anyone sits down, it should have been given. We trained yesterday the three systems we used – the one from the start, the one without Lampard, and finally the one with Demba and Nando. But besides the impressive Karen Carney on Chelsea’s left flank, the home side struggled to create any meaningful chances in the opening half without Fran Kirby or Ramon Bachmann, both of whom started on the bench in what Hayes admitted was a tactical decision, as PSG settled quickly into their defensive shape.Chelsea, who are heading for a third-place finish in WSL, have struggled in attack this season in comparison with the league leaders, Arsenal and Manchester City, and they lacked some incisiveness around the box against organised opponents.When a chance came for Chelsea just after the half-hour following a slip at the back, Cuthbert was slow to react and was quickly closed down, while another opportunity from a corner was eventually cleared without testing the PSG goalkeeper Christiane Endler. But in the 32nd minute, the visitor’s defense was found wanting and Chelsea got a vital first goal to keep hope alive. Nights like tonight – big players, big performances – that's what we live for. Chelsea are through to the Champions League semifinal after doing the seemingly impossible and beating PSG 2-0 at home in the second leg to go through on away goals after losing 3-1 last week (Agg 3-3). But they have to behave, whether that’s our fans or theirs.”.Hayes had acknowledged this week that the new deal with Barclays to sponsor the Women’s Super League – worth in excess of £10m over the next three seasons – could help England’s domestic league establish itself as the best in the world, describing it as a “watershed moment” for the women’s game in this country. Further drama was in store when Petr Cech pulled off a fine injury-time save from Marquinhos, but there was to be no reprieve for the run-away French leaders as Chelsea progressed on away goals.Having lost a glorious chance to make the semifinal of Europe’s premier competition for only the second time and the first since being bankrolled by their Qatari owners, the loss and the manner of it will come as a bitter blow to Laurent Blanc’s side. The pressure on Paris Saint-Germain’s goal became even more intense at the start of the second half. Cabaye’s long diagonal pass was inch-perfect for Cavani, who took it perfectly into his path but his finish was, as in the first leg, sorely lacking.How costly it proved. I haven't had a lot of chances this year but I just took it. Chelsea needed to claw back PSG's 3-1 advantage from the first leg and Andre Schurrle - on as an early substitute for the injured Eden Hazard - gave them hope with a first-half goal. Though of course that was the impression Chelsea gave throughout their run to glory in 2012.John Terry: "At 1-0 we always give ourselves a chance. The team that decided to defend was punished, and the team that gave everything deserved to go through to the semis.In the aftermath of the winning goal, Mourinho ran half the length of the field to drag Torres and Schurrle out of the celebratory pile-up and teach them how to be defenders.The overall impression tonight was of two teams unlikely to trouble the best sides in this competition. I can't really disagree with this:Unbelievable poor performance from a team that aspires to become the leading club in Europe.They've got their goal! An 87th-minute goal from Demba Ba dragged Chelsea into the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Paris St-Germain,I'm off, then. PSG were looking comfortable and threatening on the break in the early exchanges, with the speedy Ezequiel Lavezzi again causing problems staying high on the left. Where Napoli wilted under the onslaught, so,Chelsea left it late to complete an exciting comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final,Demba Ba has suggested that his all-important goal against Paris Saint-Germain shows José Mourinho's has 'great' resources up front,The best images from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea face Paris Saint-Germain and have a two goal deficit to overcome in the second leg of their quarter-final clash,Available for everyone, funded by readers.© 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. If that wasn't a foul, neither were most of the ones he's been merrily awarding free-kicks for everywhere else on the pitch (really most of them weren't fouls, and the ref needs to take a long hard look at himself).The last few minutes have been better for Chelsea, and it ends with a goal! Chelsea 2-0 PSG: Champions League – as it happened An 87th-minute goal from Demba Ba dragged Chelsea into the Champions League semi-finals at … We have to perform at the top level of our game, nothing less than that.". Gird your loins, folks! Yet coming after the semi-final last season, when they were overwhelmed by Wolfsburg 5-1 on aggregate, this tie against the side who finished runners-up in both 2015 and 2017 was a real test of the progress that Chelsea have made under their manager.A small band of PSG supporters did make it into the ground for kick-off and made themselves heard in a healthy crowd of more than 2,500 that included the former PSG defender David Luiz. ".I'm more optimistic, I think: I don't think it's likely – but I do think it's possible. VIDEO Chelsea 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Highlights; Late Ba Goal Takes Blues Past PSG In Champions League Quarterfinals By Jason Le Miere @JasonLeMiere 04/08/14 AT 4:52 PM Cahill pumps the ball into the box, Jallet fails to properly clear, Azpilicueta's 20-yarder deflects across the six-yard box, and Ba pokes in!7 - Only Bayern Munich (8) have hit the woodwork more in the.The players are back out, and PSG hurriedly huddling. ".PSG have a flashy tweet ready for every occasion.A lucky late break for Chelsea, a poor shot deflecting off Alex's toe and rolling conveniently to a striker, but it's hard to sympathise with Paris St-Germain, who contributed very little to the game. And Chelsea suffered a major blow when losing their most influential attacking player, Eden Hazard, to injury just 18 minutes in. No, I've no idea why either.For Chelsea fans tonight, poking out from between the seats.Refwatch: Pedro Proença has wielded his whistle at Stamford Bridge once before – when Chelsea,In the meantime read Dominic Fifield's piece on PSG's rock-steady Brazilians ….