Thursday February 21, 2013 Last 32 Finished Stamford Bridge
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Europa League - Last-gasp Hazard strike sends Chelsea into last 16
Eden Hazard scored in injury time to give Chelsea a 1-1 draw with Sparta Prague and send them into the Europa League last 16. More
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- Chelsea
- Sparta Prague
90+2' There is no more time! Last kick of the game sees Chelsea through 2-1 on aggregate. Bednar replaced Kadlec while Kweuke was booked, but it is all immaterial. Chelsea are through to the last 16.
90+1' GOAL! Hazard slams the ball into the net from just inside the Sparta box. Brilliant break by Chelsea and there is the finish. That will ensure Chelsea's progress. 1-1 now. One minute into two of time added on.
89' Ramires and Mata crowded out before Sparta break at speed to the other end, but Kadlec slides the ball wide of goal. What a chance missed that is. Could have won it there and then.- 88' Ball breaks to Ramires in a crowded area, but he spins and drives the shot wide of goal. Difficult to get that shot on target.
87' MatÄ›jovský is booked for a late tackle on Hazard. Azpilicueta slices a volley wide after the ball had broken kindly to him from the free-kick. Chelsea lacking the killer instinct.- 86' MatÄ›jovský sent tumbling to the deck by Ramires. Cech comes out of punch clear the Sparta free-kick as Chelsea break to the other end.
- 85' Mata can only hit the wall for a second time as Bertrand picks up a yellow card for a late challenge.
- 84' Prikryl is booked for charging out of the wall to block the free-kick by Mata. Chelsea will get another free-kick from the same spot.
- 83' Kweuke fells Mikel and Chelsea will have another free-kick here from 30 yards or so out.
- 82' Bertrand drives the ball across goal, but Ramires can't convert. So frustrating for the home fans.
81' Kweuke introduced for Sparta with Lafata departing the scene.- 80' Hazard drives that free-kick in at real pace, but Vaclik does superbly well to prevent that from hitting the net. Was difficult coming through some traffic.
- 79' Zápotocny with a blatant body check on Hazard. Free-kick for Chelsea out wide.
- 78' No Frank Lampard tonight. Which has perhaps not helped Chelsea's situation.
77' Offside flag goes up to thwart the run of Hazard. Those Sparta fans continue to bounce around in the away end.- 76' Krejci cuts a dash into that Chelsea area. Drives the ball across goal, but Cech is sharp to collect the cross.
- 75' This match heading for extra-time unless one side can come up with some magic here. At the moment, Sparta as likely to get the next goal.
- 74' Zapotocny wallops a blistering volley a couple of yards wide of that Chelsea goal. Cech had that covered.
- 73' A real sense of frustration adorning this match for Chelsea as Ramires is penalised for a late challenge on Hybs.
- 72' Ramires considers a couple of options inside the Sparta area, but ends up screwing the shot wide of goal.
- 71' Chelsea were made 5/1 favourites for the tournament earlier this evening after Atletico Madrid crashed out. Looking a bit dodgy now.
- 70' Great run by Kadlec. Carries the ball into the Chelsea box. Fires the ball at goal, but the shot deflects over the bar. Should have played in Lafata there. He was unmarked.
- 69' Vaclík showing his class again with a punch away from Hazard's free-kick out wide. And on we go with Sparta leading 1-0 heading for the final 20 minutes.
- 68' Torres knocks the ball down into space. Moses unloads a shot, but Vaclík is quickly across his goal to produce a timely stop.
- 67' Hazard with an intelligent backheel, but straight to the feet of a Sparta defender.
- 66' Oscar departs to be replaced by Hazard for the home side.
- 65' Eden Hazard is going to be introduced here for Chelsea. Ramires slams a hopeful volley straight into Torres, who takes a bit of a blow there.
- 64' The warning signs are there for Chelsea. Every time Sparta break at speed, they look dangerous.
- 63' Matejovsky slams the ball inches wide from 25 yards. Cech was beaten there, but the shot just off target. Sparta so close to a 2-0 lead.
- 62' Surely a change must be coming soon for Chelsea just to lift this crowd.
- 61' Torres fails to direct a header at goal from deep. Story of the night really as Chelsea continue to toil in the final third.
- 60' MatÄ›jovský penalised for a foul on Oscar. Sparta not doing much in attack, but working so hard to close down space.
- 59' Moses and Mata trying to open the door for Chelsea, but there are plenty of red shirts back to deal with the danger.
- 58' Still not enough to ease the tension. Only a goal will do that for Chelsea. Rafael Benitez cutting a concerned figure on the side of the pitch.
- 57' Chelsea enjoying a sustained perioed of pressure as Terry sees a volley clawed away by Vaclik in the Sparta goal.
- 56' Liverpool now leading 3-1 against Zenit. 3-3 on aggregate there. You can follow that one here.... Liverpool v Zenit St. Petersburg | Live | Score | Europa League 2012-2013 - Yahoo Eurosport UK
- 55' Sparta survive again with the free-kick from Mata failing to trouble that visiting defence.
- 54' Mata dinks a hopeful ball at goal before Hybs is booked for a late challenge on Azpilicueta out wide.
- 53' Torres continues to be plagued by his lack of confidence in front of goal. Four good chances haven't been taken by Torres tonight.
- 52' Vaclík quickly off his line to block the chip by Torres after he raced onto the pass from Ramires. Great movement, but the finish eludes the Spanish forward.
- 51' Moses uncorks a shot from fully 35 yards. Ball always drifting wide of goal.
- 50' Torres is bundled over by Hybs and that will be a free-kick to Chelsea 30 yards from goal. Mata with the delivery, but Sparta react quickest to clear the danger.
- 49' Deflection off the boot of Hybs as that shot hit the post. Sparta needing some real good fortune to preserve their lead.
- 48' Superb move by Chelsea. Oscar shows terrific awareness to pick out the run of Ramires, who can't believe his luck as the ball comes thundering back off a post. So unfortunate.
- 47' Sparta again pressing high up the park as Cahill is forced to look lively to deal with a sticky situation at the back.
46' Off we go then with the second period off and running. Chelsea get the ball rolling.- 45+2' There goes the whistle for the break! A 1-0 lead for Sparta Prague at the break. Not looking great for the home side. All level at 1-1 on aggregate.
- 45+1' Mikel pickes out Torres on the run. Superbly timed run, but ends up lifting the header over the bar. More frustration for the Spanish forward.
- 44' We are going to have two minutes of time added to this first period.
- 43' Liverpool now lead Zenit 2-1 on the night. Zenit 3-2 ahead on aggregate. Meanwhile, Lafata has been booked for a late one on Ramires.
- 42' Lovely ball by Ramires, but no takers on hand to convert. Groans palpable around Stamford Bridge.
- 41' Mata with a corner at the other end, but Terry can't turn to get the volley at goal. Chelsea continue their work in the Sparta half.
- 40' Matejovsky with a chance of a decent cross, but somehow overhits that effort. Ball flies out of play. Cech with the goalkick.
- 39' Chelsea or Sparta up against Steaua Bucharest or Ajax in the last 16. Work to be done before either side can think about that match.
- 38' Great pass by Ramires to pick out Mata, whose shot is tipped over by Vaclik. Excellent piece of play by Chelsea. No goal to finish it off.
- 37' Sparta with real pressure on the ball and the momentum it would seem.
- 36' Zapotocny doing just enough to get the ball behind his goal from Azpilicueta's cross. Oscar then sends the corner straight into the arms of Sparta keeper Vaclik.
- 35' The natives are getting a bit restless in the stands about what they are watching out there.
- 34' Lafata drives a shot wide of target before Chelsea almost play themselves back into trouble. These are worrying times for Chelsea.
- 33' Referee has been attended to by the Chelsea medics, and we can carry on with the business of the match.
- 32' Referee seems to have cut his hand. He needs a spot of treatment here.
- 31' Moses needs to stay awake in defending his goal at corners. That was almost very costly. Chelsea in the Sparta half again here. Sparta with plenty of bodies back.
- 30' Matejovsky slams a volley well over the bar. Ball always rising. That was a real chance. Another excellent corner by the visitors.
- 29' Prikryl on the move again for Sparta. Drives the ball at goal, but Cech gets down to make the stop. Another probing Sparta attack.
- 28' The Czech fans making themselves heard. And little wonder. They are well involved in this tie.
- 27' Krejci with a decent corner and an impressive cross. Cahill doing just enough to clear the danger. Chelsea being tested by the quality of these cross balls.
- 26' Liverpool level at 1-1 with Zenit in their match at Anfield. Zenit 3-1 clear on aggregate.
- 25' Mata leans back and ends up lifting the free-kick well over the bar. Poor finish really.
- 24' Ramires fouled by Lafata and Chelsea have a free-kick 27 yards from the visiting goal.
- 23' Bertrand showing some nice control out wide, but is immediately greeted by two Sparta players. Visitors working extremely hard.
- 22' Kadlec sets up Lafata from distance, but he buries the shot high into the stands behind the goal. Sparta still finding space here.
- 21' Oscar and Torres trying to work a one-two, but Torres stumbles at the wrong moment as Vaclik collects the loose ball.
- 20' Ball breaks to Oscar in the centre of the box, but his volley is blocked. Chelsea trying to get themselves on the front foot.
- 19' Kadlec looking extremely bright as he is fouled by Terry. Sparta continue to look for a second goal. What can Chelsea come up with?
- 18' Chelsea pay the price for going to sleep. Not sure what was going on at the back there. The home fans a bit stunned.
- 17' GOAL! David Lafata slams the ball high into the net from Kadlec's pass. Brilliant movement by Sparta, who are level at 1-1 in this tie. Fine finish from 12 yards out.
- 16' Moses with another real piece of place. Looks again for Torres in the centre of the goal, but Holek reads that move perfectly. Some classy defending.
- 15' Decent movement by Torres. Manages to flick Juan Mata's corner at goal, but ends up nodding a couple of yards over the bar.
- 14' The Chelsea fans trying to encourage their side to get this opening goal. Vital that they don't fall behind holding this 1-0 lead from the first leg.
- 13' Lafata is deemed to be offside after setting off too soon.
- 12' Bertrand throws a cross into the heart of the Sparta box, but Vaclik is well placed to come off his line and grasp the loose ball.
- 11' Torres with 15 goals this evening. Will be looking to add to that total here. Chelsea look to build again.
- 10' Torres somehow lifts a volley over the bar from Mata's cross. What a chance that was, but not taken. Just got too much on the ball five yards out.
- 9' Azpilicueta forced to make a brilliant block to halt the shot by Kadlec. Superb piece of defending with Chelsea almost found wanting.
- 8' The Sparta fans making plenty of noise as their side keep the ball at the back with some ease. Chelsea giving them space. Obviously a tactical ploy.
- 7' Terry in ahead of Kadlec to nod the ball back to Cech in the Chelsea goal. Showing his leadership skills.
- 6' 3,000 fans over from Prague this evening. They obviously feel there is life yet in this tie. Not so sure about that. Torres looking lively again up front. Zapotocny deals with the danger.
- 5' Newcastle and Tottenham already into the last 16 of this tournament. Chelsea could be the third English side through here tonight as Sparta clear a Mata corner.
- 4' Great burst of pace by Moses. Picks out Torres, whose shot slides inches wide of goal. Right idea, but the ball flew the wrong side of the post.
- 3' Chelsea trying to become only the fourth side to have won all three of UEFA's major club competitions after Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich - having won the Cup Winners' Cup twice (in 1970/71 and 1997/98) and the Champions League last season.
- 2' No real need for Chelsea to chase this game. Look content to let Sparta have the ball in their own half. That tactic worked well for them in last week's 1-0 win in the Czech capital.
1' Sparta get the match off and running at Stamford Bridge.- 20:00 The bookies' odds to qualify: Chelsea 1/20, Sparta Prague 10/1 - it would take a massive shock for Rafa Benitez's side to go out tonight.
- 19:55 Tottenham and Newcastle are both through to the last 16 after the early games - can Chelsea and Liverpool join them?
- 19:50 Huge excitement in the early games - Tottenham on the brink of the last 16 thanks to a stunning late goal from Mousa Dembele. Olympique Lyon v Tottenham Hotspur: LIVE
- 19:45 Chelsea come into this game in a very strong position, having won the first leg 1-0 in Prague. They are well set to make the last 16. Not sure about the 'Champions of Europe' banner in the crowd, though. 'Champions of Europa' - perhaps in May.
- 19:40 John Terry in tonight's programme notes: "We must ... look to kill off Sparta in the first half, with the game against City in the back of our minds."
- 19:35 There's plenty of Europa League action on a night that has already seen holders Atletico Madrid get knocked out by Rubin Kazan. Europa League: scores and scorers
- 19:30 As is customary whenever this happens, we have to point out that Fernando Torres starts for Liverpool. You don't need us to point out that he has struggled of late (if 'of late' you mean 'for two years') - but Demba Ba hasn't exactly set the world alight in recent matches. He has gone six games without a goal.
- 19:25 CHELSEA: Cech; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar, Mata, Moses; Torres... Subs: Turnbull, Cole, David Luiz, Hazard, Ferreira, Marin, Benayoun. // SPARTA PRAGUE: Vaclik; Zapotocny, Holek, Svejdik, Hybs; Vacha; Prikryl, Matejovsky, Kadlec, Krejcl; Lafata... Subs: Cech, Pamic, Vidlicka, Polom, Janos, Kweuke, Bednar.
- 19:20 Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Europa League game between Chelsea and Sparta Prague at Stamford Bridge.
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Summary
- 90+1' GOAL! Hazard slams the ball into the net from just inside the Sparta box. Brilliant break by Chelsea and there is the finish. That will ensure Chelsea's progress. 1-1 now. One minute into two of time added on.
- 89' Ramires and Mata crowded out before Sparta break at speed to the other end, but Kadlec slides the ball wide of goal. What a chance missed that is. Could have won it there and then.
- 80' Hazard drives that free-kick in at real pace, but Vaclik does superbly well to prevent that from hitting the net. Was difficult coming through some traffic.
- 74' Zapotocny wallops a blistering volley a couple of yards wide of that Chelsea goal. Cech had that covered.
- 70' Great run by Kadlec. Carries the ball into the Chelsea box. Fires the ball at goal, but the shot deflects over the bar. Should have played in Lafata there. He was unmarked.
- 68' Torres knocks the ball down into space. Moses unloads a shot, but Vaclík is quickly across his goal to produce a timely stop.
- 63' Matejovsky slams the ball inches wide from 25 yards. Cech was beaten there, but the shot just off target. Sparta so close to a 2-0 lead.
- 57' Chelsea enjoying a sustained perioed of pressure as Terry sees a volley clawed away by Vaclik in the Sparta goal.
- 52' Vaclík quickly off his line to block the chip by Torres after he raced onto the pass from Ramires. Great movement, but the finish eludes the Spanish forward.
- 48' Superb move by Chelsea. Oscar shows terrific awareness to pick out the run of Ramires, who can't believe his luck as the ball comes thundering back off a post. So unfortunate.
- 45+1' Mikel pickes out Torres on the run. Superbly timed run, but ends up lifting the header over the bar. More frustration for the Spanish forward.
- 38' Great pass by Ramires to pick out Mata, whose shot is tipped over by Vaclik. Excellent piece of play by Chelsea. No goal to finish it off.
- 30' Matejovsky slams a volley well over the bar. Ball always rising. That was a real chance. Another excellent corner by the visitors.
- 29' Prikryl on the move again for Sparta. Drives the ball at goal, but Cech gets down to make the stop. Another probing Sparta attack.
- 17' GOAL! David Lafata slams the ball high into the net from Kadlec's pass. Brilliant movement by Sparta, who are level at 1-1 in this tie. Fine finish from 12 yards out.
- 10' Torres somehow lifts a volley over the bar from Mata's cross. What a chance that was, but not taken. Just got too much on the ball five yards out.
- 9' Azpilicueta forced to make a brilliant block to halt the shot by Kadlec. Superb piece of defending with Chelsea almost found wanting.
- 4' Great burst of pace by Moses. Picks out Torres, whose shot slides inches wide of goal. Right idea, but the ball flew the wrong side of the post.
- 19:25 CHELSEA: Cech; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar, Mata, Moses; Torres... Subs: Turnbull, Cole, David Luiz, Hazard, Ferreira, Marin, Benayoun. // SPARTA PRAGUE: Vaclik; Zapotocny, Holek, Svejdik, Hybs; Vacha; Prikryl, Matejovsky, Kadlec, Krejcl; Lafata... Subs: Cech, Pamic, Vidlicka, Polom, Janos, Kweuke, Bednar.
Team Line-up & Ratings
ChelseaManager: Rafael Benítez
Sparta PragueManager: Vitezslav Lavicka
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
- P. Cech
- Azpilicueta
- J. Terry
- G. Cahill
- R. Bertrand
- J. Mata
- Oscar
- Ramires
- J. Mikel
- V. Moses
- F. Torres
Subs
Starting line-up
- T. Vaclík
- T. Zápotocny
- M. Holek
- O. Švejdík
- M. Hybs
- M. Matejovský
- V. Kadlec
- T. Prikryl
- L. Vácha
- L. Krejcí
- D. Lafata
Subs
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Rate Players
68′ Newcastle should make offers for both Torres & Carroll...should be able to get 'em both for around 10 mil max! (not that they need them)
#$%$ head
cool
128 Brian....You absolute plank, Maxi is right. Chelsea fans are such #$%$ hate to think where you'll be in 5 years. Haha. Money might buy a short period of success but thats where it ends! Good luck #$%$
You Pri*k Maxi I told you in the other column THIS IS A DIFFERENT SEASON, Same year but different season OK #$%$*HEAD !!!!!!!!
A hard-earned ascend to last 16 teams and hoping fans to gaining at least a title. Chelsea mustn't burn this last chance.
Benitez is a true " Brilliant ", trying to be smart by playing mata and oscar holding midfield, no #$%$ way mikel can be a attacking midfield, what an idiot of u benitez, please do get ur bloody #$%$ far away from chelsea asap.
Scraped through by the skin of their teeth, based on this performance work to be done if they expect to raise that champions cup ever again.
Bored yed a bam o #$%$? Money for fa? M.u.f.c. Always above you
pls Benitez n Torres pls live chelsea alone cos both r great failure to chelsea, Kudos to Hazard!
you no honestly ive lost faith in torres after that performance today i dont think he will re gain himself in chelsea RAFA OUT TORRES OUT MOURINHO IN FALCAO IN
One lucky cl win now fk off watch man u win the trble again. Penalties no required,
GONNA WIN FK ALL! MAN U WIN IT ALL
I started supporting Chelsea back in 1969, in the time of Osgood, Bonetti, Cooke...but have no great interest any more- the Champions League was finally won and i'm tired of the idiot #$%$ Abramovic, dislike Benitez as manager- come back Special One. Oh, and come on Swansea- very glad Swansea ko'd Chelsea in cup semi.
Rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay rafa must stay
go beat #$%$ hlp mufc
Mesage to Yahoo. Why is the first leg score not shown? Very annoying.
well who we gonna play in the next round without a decent striker because torres is a spent force and ba is cuptied
Ha Ha Suckers
well done chelsea last 16
