Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 1 (aet)
Blues win 4-3 on penalties
Published: 16 minutes ago
CHELSEA came back from the death to win the Champions League title at the expense of Bayern Munich.
The Blues earned a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory after a stunning final at the Allianz Arena.
Thomas Muller looked to have won the game with an 82nd minute header before Didier Drogba equalised two minutes before full-time.
Arjen Robben then saw his extra time penalty saved by Petr Cech before the tie went to penalties.
And it was Drogba who wrapped up a famous victory for Roberto Di Matteo’s men with the winning spot-kick in the most dramatic of endings.
Bayern had bossed possession for large periods of the match but wasted a host of gilt-edged chances to kill-off the Blues.
Robben curled an early effort into the stands and Mario Gomez glanced Franck Ribery’s cross over the bar from 10 yards out.
WATCHING DUTY … suspended Chelsea captain John Terry looks on ahead of the match
WATCHING DUTY … suspended Chelsea captain John Terry looks on ahead of the match
There was momentary panic in the Chelsea box when they failed to deal with a quickly-taken throw.
But fortunately for them, Toni Kroos failed to shoot when well-placed and eventually the ball was scrambled clear.
Robben then showed a flash of brilliance when he beat Jose Bosingwa on the edge of the box.
The Dutchman then nutmegged Gary Cahill before forcing a fine point-blank save from Petr Cech, who deflected the ball onto a post and out for a corner.
It was all Bayern and Robben was at the heart of their best moves.
And the former Chelsea star set up Kroos with a clever pass on 24 minutes, though the German flashed his shot well wide.
On the half hour, Robben was involved again – this time firing in a shot on the half volley which Cech dealt with comfortably.
Chelsea’s first effort on goal came after 33 minutes when Cahill surged forward and won a free kick on the edge of the area.
However, Juan Mata curled the resulting free-kick over the bar.
Bayern responded through Ribery, with the Frenchman cutting in from the left and hitting a shot just wide of Cech’s near post.
A minute later, left-back Diego Contento pinged in a quick cross which Peter Muller hit just wide on the half volley.
Chelsea mustered their second attack of the match when Didier Drogba found space in the box only to be crowded out by the Bayern backline.
Sixty seconds later, Salomon Kalou forced a good save from Manuel Neuer at his near post after good build up play from the Blues.
Bayern then missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Gomez’s bicycle kick was well defended.
But when the ball fell to Ribery, he skewed hi shot to Gomez only for the striker to make a total hash of his effort from just a few yards out.
Gomez then had another great chance shortly before half-time when he beat Cahill in the box but blazed his shot way, way over the crossbar.
Bayern had the ball in the net eight minutes into the second half but Ribery crashed the ball home from an offside position.
Jupp Heynckes’ team continued to boss possession and Ashley Cole had to put in a terrific sliding tackle to prevent Robben giving Bayern the lead on the hour.
Ribery then evaded three players but could only fire in a weak effort that went well wide.
FLARE PLAYERS … Bayern fans get into the mood ahead of the second half
FLARE PLAYERS … Bayern fans get into the mood ahead of the second half
On 72 minutes, Drogba found space on the left and sent in a great cross from the byline that had the Bayern defence scampering to clear.
MULLERED … Bayern Munich forward Thomas heads his side in front
MULLERED … Bayern Munich forward Thomas heads his side in front
Florent Malouda came on for Ryan Bertrand on 73 minutes. Kalou then saw a tame effort saved by Neuer as the Blues tried to gain a hold on proceedings.
Ribery was causing all sorts of problems and had a deflected effort pushed over the bar from Cech with 15 minutes to go.
Bayern’s profligacy was evident once more when the France international again weaved his way into the Chelsea box before laying the ball off to Muller, who skewed his shot wide.
With ten minutes to go, Muller broke away and Cole swept his legs away to earn a yellow card.
Fernando Torres was brought on for Kalou with six minutes of normal time remaining.
Contento produced another fine cross which Muller headed on target only to see Cech save it.
But the German international made no mistake on 83 minutes when he opened the scoring with a textbook header to send the German fans in the Allianz Arena into Euphoria.
Bayern brought on Daniel Van Buyten for Muller in an attempt to close the game out.
However, Drogba equalised in dramatic fashion two minutes from time when he powered home a header from Mata’s corner.
And the Ivory Coast star could have won it in added time had he not skied a late free-kick over the crossbar.
Chelsea started extra time the more brightly with Bayern taking their foot off the pedal.
But disaster struck three minutes in when Drogba clipped Ribery in the box to concede a penalty.
Ex-Chelsea ace Robben stepped up to put his team back in front but Cech saved his spot-kick to hand the Blues renewed hope.
Ribery was forced off through the injury he received when winning the penalty and Ivica Olic replaced him.
Two minutes into the second period of extra time, Lahm floated over a terrific cross to the unmarked Olic, but he fired his shot across the face of goal.
Didier Drogba’s penalty wins the Champions League for Chelsea
BACK OF THE NET … Didier Drogba’s penalty wins the Champions League for Chelsea
Cahill then produced a great defensive block to deny Gomez after good work from Lahm.
Robben tried to make ammends for his penalty miss when he cut in from the right but lashes his attempt over the bar.
Bayern pushed forward in search of a late winner as Chelsea’s defence came under more pressure.
But the Bundesliga giants could not breach their rear-guard a second time and it was left to penalties to decide where the Champions League trophy would end up.
Lahm and Gomez both scored either side of Mata missing Chelsea’s first spot-kick.
