Champions League, Valencia 1-2 Chelsea (agg 2-3)

Chelsea steal it at very death!

A 90th minute strike from Michael Essien stunned Valencia at the Mestalla and secured Chelsea a 2-1 win as they progressed to the Champions League semi-final. The Blues had gone down to a 32nd minute goal from Fernando Morientes, but Andriy Shevchenko equalised seven minutes into the second half.

Chelsea had looked dead and buried in the first half when Fernando Morientes had given Valencia a 2-1 aggregate lead. But Andriy Shevchenko levelled and then Essien's last-gasp winner put Chelsea in dreamland.

Valencia made the better start to the game, but having failed to snatch an early goal they looked happy to sit back and soak up Chelsea pressure. The visitors had chances early on, as Ricardo Carvalho and Shevchenko both nodded wide and Ballack's powerful header was saved by Canizares.

Morientes, who had missed the opening leg in London because of a shoulder injury, was clearly determined to set up a semi-final meeting with his former club Liverpool. He was thwarted from giving the home side the lead in the 31st minute when he smashed a cross from David Silva against Petr Cech's right-hand upright.

But Morientes prevailed a minute later when he escaped his marker to volley home a superbly-delivered right-wing cross from Valencia full-back Luis Miguel. The goal put Valencia ahead on aggregate but Chelsea could still save themselves by getting on the scoresheet.

Chelsea's lack of width was immediately addressed with Mourinho switching to 4-3-3 by moving Essien to right-back and introducing Joe Cole. The impact was instant. Cole and Didier Drogba linked perfectly and Chelsea played much further forward. Seven minutes after half-time Drogba met Essien's cross and, although Luis Miguel and Roberto Ayala crowded out the striker, the ball fell for Shevchenko to stab past Cañizares from close range.
Valencia's back line began to creak, with possession presented back to Drogba in the 66th minute although the Ivorian scuffed his shot and Cañizares made a comfortable save.

Valencia substitute Miguel Angel Angulo wasted a good chance when he shot wide of the target as the Spanish side pressed for the goal that would give them victory. The Spanish side had Canizares to thank for keeping them in the game in the 84th minute when he produced a sensational one-handed save to keep out a header from Ballack.

But Essien put Chelsea into the semi-finals with a glorious angled drive in the 91st minute.

Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Moretti, Del Horno, Joaquin, Albelda, Albiol (Hugo Viana 72), Silva, Morientes (Angulo 65), Villa.
Subs Not Used: Butelle, Jorge Lopez, Curro Torres, Nacho Insa, Pallardo.

Booked: Del Horno, Albelda, Ayala, Moretti.

Goals: Morientes 32.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Joe Cole 46), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard (Makelele 90), Ballack, Shevchenko (Kalou 90), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Ferreira, Wright-Phillips.

Booked: Essien, Ballack.

Goals: Shevchenko 52, Essien 90.

Champions league, Valencia 1-2 Chelsea full highlights:

Shevchenko and Arveladze in doubt

Andriy Shevchenko is struggling with an ankle injury and is rated doubtful for Ukraine's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier in the Faroe Islands on Saturday. His absence would provide a major headache for coach Oleh Blokhin who already has question marks surrounding the availability of Ruslan Rotan and Serhiy Rebrov, though midfielder Rotan has returned to training following an ankle problem.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has pruned his squad for the qualifier against Scotland from 25 players to 21 after a week's training in Coverciano. Goalkeeper Marco Amelia, defenders Daniele Bonera and Manuel Pasqual, and midfielder Franco Semioli missed the cut for Wednesday's Group B game in Bari. By contrast, newcomers Max Tonetto and Fabio Quagliarella confirmed their places. Meanwhile, AS Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta has sat out training with a slight thigh injury but should be fit to face the Scots.

Shota Arveladze may have to skip Georgia's Group B match against Scotland in Glasgow on Saturday as the former Rangers FC forward has a swollen knee. Georgia coach Klaus Toppmöller is hopeful the 34-year-old AZ Alkmaar player will be passed fit. "His knee has been swollen since last Sunday and we will give him until the morning before making a decision," Toppmöller said.

Midfielder Christakis Marangos has left the Cyprus squad for Saturday's Group D home fixture against Slovakia after aggravating a knee injury in training. The 23-year-old has been told to rest for two weeks after the recurrence of the injury, which has troubled him all season at Anorthosis Famagusta FC. There are no plans to replace him.

Heart of Midlothian FC players Edgaras Jankauskas, Saulius Mikoliunas and Marius Zaliukas will be sidelined for Lithuania's weekend qualifier against France after failing to return to full fitness following injuries. Their Hearts team-mates Deividas Cesnauskis and Nerijus Barasa had already been ruled out while Edgaras Cesnauskis has refused to play for his country under coach Algimantas Liubinskas.

Hannover 96 striker Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson has dropped out of the Iceland squad to take on Spain in Group F next Wednesday. The 24-year-old has been struggling with a groin complaint and faces a spell on the sidelines. SK Brann's 25-year-old utility man Armann Smari Bjørnsson will take his place.

FA Cup, Tottenham1-2 Chelsea

Spurs second best as Chelsea grasp their second chanceChelsea set up an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Blackburn Rovers thanks to superb second-half strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Andriy Shevchenko finally showed his true quality with a superb strike that put Chelsea on course for a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final replay victory at Tottenham on Monday.



Shevchenko broke the deadlock with a finish of the highest quality early in the second half before Shaun Wright-Phillips added an equally brilliant second.



Robbie Keane reduced the deficit with a late penalty but Chelsea edged through to set up a semi-final against Blackburn next month.



However, there was an ugly end to the match. As Chelsea's players celebrated with their supporters at the final whistle, a Spurs fan ran on to the pitch to confront Blues boss Jose Mourinho and had to be restrained by Frank Lampard.



With tempers already raised, Chelsea coach Baltemar Brito was involved in a heated argument with Tottenham assistant Chris Hughton as the players left the pitch.



After months of plenty of criticism for a series of lacklustre displays since his pre-season move from AC Milan, Shevchenko is coming into form at just the right moment.



His relationship with Mourinho has been frosty at times amid suggestions the Ukraine international was signed by owner Roman Abramovich rather than the Chelsea boss.



But he scored a fine goal in Saturday's win against Sheffield United and his devastating effort here was further evidence that he is beginning to recapture the form that persuaded Chelsea to pay 30 million pounds for him.



It was tough on Tottenham who had started well, with Dimitar Berbatov wasting no time in testing Petr Cech with a looping header from Steed Malbranque's cross.



Chelsea had staged a dramatic fightback to set up this replay after trailing 3-1 at half-time at Stamford Bridge, prompting Mourinho to taunt Spurs by claiming he expected his side to reach the final after that escape.



Michael Ballack was close to backing up those bold words in the sixth minute when he shot narrowly wide after Didier Drogba chested down Ashley Cole's long punt.



Wright-Phillips has been given a rare opportunity by Mourinho recently and the winger showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent with a fierce drive from the edge of the area that flashed just over the crossbar.


But Spurs have been free-scoring form of late and Michael Dawson wasn't far away with a header from Jermaine Jenas's corner midway through the half.



Martin Jol's side had won seven of their previous eight matches and they gave Chelsea no time to settle in a frantic first half. The visitors' front two were starved of service and Drogba's frustration boiled over when he was booked for dissent after fouling Ricardo Rocha.



Chances were at a premium as these London rivals refused to give an inch.



Lampard tried his luck from acute angle, but his scuffed half-volley never looked like troubling Paul Robinson.



Tottenham were first to threaten after half-time when Pascal Chimbonda's volley from Keane's flick was well saved by Cech. But it was Chelsea who took the lead in stunning style in the 55th minute.



When Shevchenko cut in from the right past Malbranque, there appeared to be little danger, but the Ukrainian unleashed a superb curling strike that arrowed past Robinson into the far corner.



It was the kind of finish that earned Shevchenko his reputation as the best forward in Europe and there was worse to come for Spurs as Chelsea hit them with another stunning goal six minutes later.



Cole spotted Michael Dawson was out of position and lofted a pass to Drogba just inside the penalty area. The Ivory Coast striker chested down to Wright-Phillips and he sent a perfectly-placed strike whistling past Robinson.



Just as Chelsea looked set to cruise into the last four, Berbatov won a penalty in the 79th minute when he surged into the area and was brought down from behind by Carvalho.



Keane sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to set up a furious finale, but Chelsea held on to keep their dreams of a quadruple alive.




Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84), Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Defoe 64), Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ghaly, Huddlestone.

Booked: Chimbonda.

Goals: Keane 79 pen.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Ferreira 90), Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86), Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.

Goals: Shevchenko 55, Wright-Phillips 61.

FA Cup, Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea highlights & goals:

Premiership, Chelsea 3-0 Sheff Utd

Shevchenko shines as Chelsea cruise

Chelsea defeated Sheffield United 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to once again move to within six points of leaders Manchester United.

Andriy Shevchenko, Saloman Kalou and Michael Ballack scored the goals for Jose Mourinho’s side . Mourinho, opting to leave Didier Drogba on the bench, watched his team take the lead after just four minutes.

Ricardo Carvalho beat three players before finding Shevchenko with a wonderful crossfield ball. The Ukrainian then lashed a shot past Paddy Kenny in the Blades goal.

It was 2-0 when a cross from the lively Shaun Wright-Phillips was touched on by Shevchenko, with Kalou applying the finish.

The visitors weren’t out of it, though. Petr Cech kept out a long-range strike from Colin Kazim Richards, while Rob Hulse went close with an overhead kick.

Cech also had to be alert to save from Hulse after a Keith Gillespie cross. There was bad news for the Blades as top-scorer Hulse suffered a suspected broken ankle in the collision.

Ballack was introduced as a half-time substitute for Frank Lampard, as Mourinho shuffled his pack with Monday’s FA Cup replay against Tottenham in mind.

He made it 3-0 when heading in a Wright-Phillips free-kick after the referee had deemed that Gillespie fouled Arjen Robben.

There was little to speak of in the second-half, although Wright Phillips shot just wide as he continues to look for his first league goal for Chelsea.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:
"We played well, we started well and scored two goals so after 20 minutes the game is under control.

"They had a little spell before half-time but we were in control and played well in the second half.

"When we have our best players back we are a good team and it is no surprise to me that we have won six games in a row."

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock on Rob Hulse's injury:
"It looks like a double fracture. It was pretty horrific - one of those where you look away.

"He almost got the ball but his ankle collided with Cech's leg, goes one way and then goes the other way.

"We have a job on our hands and it is up to one of the other lads to take us on from what Rob has done for us."

Chelsea: Cech, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole (Ferreira 65), Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Lampard (Ballack 46), Robben, Shevchenko (Drogba 65), Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Diarra.

Goals: Shevchenko 4, Kalou 17, Ballack 58.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Geary, Davis, Morgan, Armstrong, Gillespie, Alan Quinn (Tonge 67), Jagielka, Montgomery, Kazim-Richards, Hulse (Nade 25).
Subs Not Used: Bromby, Shelton, Stead.

Chelsea 3-0 Sheff Utd, highlights and goals:

UEFA Champions League, Porto 1-1 Chelsea

Terry Off As Sheva Gives Chelsea Vital Goal Draw

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho faced his old club and came away with a tactically sound 1-1 draw, this after the defending Premiership champions fell behind early and also lost their talismanic defensive captain John Terry through injury. Porto needed just 12 minutes to jump in front, the goal coming while Chelsea played with ten men. Influential Blues defender John Terry had come up lame after an innocuous bit of off the ball contact with Lisandro Lopez. Nevertheless, with Terry on the sidelines seeking consultation the home side took advantage.

Mourinho responded by introducing Arjen Robben, who might have felt aggrieved not to have been selected in the first place after a reasonable performance against Norwich in the 4-0 FA Cup win on Saturday. Arjen Robben's impact was immediate. His first touch came in collecting another weakly headed clearance, this time Pepe's; straight away he drove at Porto. Bosingwa and Pepe were tight to him but failed to intervene, allowing Robben to feed Shevchenko in the area. The Ukrainian was unmarked and remained unchallenged as he took two further steps into the area before sweeping a left-foot shot past Helton for the equaliser.

With Essien settling in impressively at the back, Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma therefore went for the audacious and nearly scored near the end of the first half. The 23-year-old hit a pass first time from outside the area in a wicked, swerving lob of Cech. The ball hammered off the crossbar, however, despite the Chelsea goalkeeper looking like one of the paying spectators on the play.

Half-time brought another Chelsea change, the injured Robben replaced by Mikel John Obi. Porto brought on Marek Cech for Meireles, allowing Quaresma to shift inside. The move was testament to the fetters Diarra had applied to the forward, justifying Mourinho's decision to favour the Frenchman at right-back over Paulo Ferreira and Geremi.

Porto manager Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira, meantime, made three second-half substitutions but none of the players distinguished himself. Adriano—a late replacement for Postiga, in fact, was saved blushes after a dreadful close-range miss with five minutes left when he was ruled—correctly—offside.

LINEUPS
Porto (1): Helton; Fucile (Bruno Moraes), Bruno Alves, Pepe, Bosingwa; Raule Meireles, Assuncao, Gonzalez; Quaresma, Postiga (Adriano), Lopez
Manager: Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira

Chelsea (1): Cech; Bridge, Carvalho, Terry (Robben, Obi Mikel), Diarra; Lampard, Makelele, Ballack, Essien; Drogba, Shevchenko (Kalou)
Manager: Jose Mourinho

Match's Full highlights:

Sheva would be staying at Stamford Bridge, at least till the summer.
The never ending “Shevchenko back to Milan” rumours have resurfaced following the revelations that there has been some argy-bargy between Mourinho and the Chelsea board. The Chelsea manager accused the Stamford Bridge board of refusing to back him in the January transfer window.

Reports have already suggested Mourinho could leave in the summer after a fall-out with owner Roman Abramovich. If this were the case, unamed sources have stated that Milan MD Galliani has already pitched in for the unsettled Ukranian.

And Mourinho said: “I’ve identified the players that I want but they will not come. It’s club reasons and I don’t have to tell you why".

“I have asked for players and it’s not my choice that no-one is coming.”

Mourinho was thought to be keen to bring in a defender and a forward during the transfer window. But the outspoken boss says if he is unable to bring in any new faces then he will not allow any of his squad to depart.

He added: “The information I have is that nobody is coming and if that’s the case then nobody is leaving.”