Champions League

Real Madrid 5-2 APOEL 

Stunning Ronaldo free kick the highlight as Mourinho's men book semifinal clash with Bayern Munich

There was to be no miracle for the Cypriot side, as a dominant performance from Mourinho's men saw them march into the next round.

Real Madrid can boast the highest-scoring trio in Spanish football's history as the Spanish club strolled into the Champions League semifinals with an absorbing 5-2 victory over APOEL in their second-leg encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema have now scored 101 goals between them in the 2011-12 season, beating the 100 goal mark of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, set during Barcelona's treble winning campaign of 2009-10. 

It was an enticing game from start to finish, with a brace from Ronaldo, alongside further strikes from Kaka, Jose Callejon and Angel Di Maria doing the buisness for the hosts, who ended the fairytale run of the brave outfit from Cyprus with an 8-2 aggregate scoreline. 

However, Jose Mourinho will no doubt be frustrated with two lapses in concentration that allowed Gustavo Manduca to finish off a great APOEL move, before Esteban Solari struck from the spot after an infraction by Hamit Altintop. 

With a 3-0 deficit to overcome after the first leg, APOEL was always going to need a near miracle to progress, particularly against a Madrid team in imperious form in Europe. The Spanish outfit had won eight of its nine matches on the continent this season while conceding only four times, the lowest in the competition.

Indeed, Mourinho’s men picked up where they left off after the initial encounter in Cyprus, unsurprisingly dominating play right from the start of the match.

Higuain nodded a Ronaldo cross off target. Ronaldo was blocked expertly by Urko Pardo from point-blank range, all in the first five minutes.

APOEL’s threat was non-existent as the club kept every man behind the ball inside its own half, with the tie already looking like an exercise in damage limitation as Madrid continued to press forward.

Ronaldo sent a towering header just over the bar from Nuri Sahin’s free kick with 20 minutes gone, but the Portuguese forward would not be denied much longer, as six minutes later, he turned home a teasing cross by Marcelo at the far post to score his 48th goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, and Madrid was 2-0 in front after a goal of undeniable quality from Kaka. The Brazilian received a pass from compatriot Marcelo 25 yards from goal and took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable shot that bent past the helpless Pardo into the top corner.

It was one-way traffic in the direction of the visitors’ goal, and Kaka nearly repeated the trick four minutes before halftime with another attempt from distance, but this time sent his shot just the wrong side of the post.

Madrid took its foot off the gas coming out of the interval, with APOEL well and truly floored by the 5-0 aggregate score. The home side saw a succession of efforts fly harmlessly off target as it seemed content to stay in cruise control.

APOEL gained some encouragement from the lethargic play of the hosts, and managed to grab itself consolation with a well worked goal after 67 minutes. Some slick interplay in the Madrid half ended with a clever reverse pass from Ailton to Manduca, who coolly sidefooted home to send the away fans into raptures.

However, Ronaldo brought the visitors back down to earth with a stunning set piece with quarter of an hour to go. Taking aim from a tricky angle on the left side of the box, the Portugese sent the ball past the despairing fingertips of Pardo into the top corner for his first goal direct from a free-kick this season.

Halftime substitute Callejon got in on the act in the 80th minute, smashing home Di Maria’s pass at the near post for the home side’s fourth.

Madrid was breached once again within two minutes though, after a foul by Altintop was spotted by the referee, allowing Solari the chance to beat Iker Casillas with a composed finish from the spot.

Di Maria was able to add further gloss to the scoreline in the 84th minute with an impudent chip over Pardo, after sprinting in unopposed from midfield.

The match ended frantically as Di Maria and Solari both went close, but the result was never in doubt as the home side finished with confidence.

Madrid marches into an enticing semifinal matchup against Bayern Munich, with the first leg set to be played on April 17 at the Allianz Arena in Germany.

Chelsea 2-1 Benfica

Lampard & Meireles on target as Blues set up Champions League semi-final date with Barcelona

Chelsea managed to qualify for the last four of the Champions League, but there were a few scary moments for the Stamford Bridge faithful as Javi Garcia scored late on

A penalty by Frank Lampard and a strike by Raul Meireles deep into injury-time helped Chelsea secure a Champions League semi-final place. But their evening was not without a scare after Javi Garcia’s late goal nearly cost the English side against Benfica.

The victory over the Portuguese outfit sees Chelsea continue on the path towards the final in Munich, but they must first overcome the large roadblock of defending champions Barcelona.

Roberto Di Matteo opted to make two changes from the first leg triumph in Lisbon, bringing back Branislav Ivanovic and Lampard in place of Paulo Ferreira and Raul Meireles, while Michael Essien and Didier Drogba were left on the bench.

His opposite number Jorge Jesus decided to give starts to former Stamford Bridge fringe-player Nemanja Matic and former Spanish international full back Joan Capdevila, who replaced injured duo Luisao and Jardel.

Chelsea found themselves on the back foot early on in the game as Benfica looked to level the tie early on, with Nicolas Gaitan posing the threat down the left wing, but the Blues defence stood firm to protect both Petr Cech and their first leg lead.

The home side were given a golden opportunity to take the lead as Ashley Cole broke into the box and was cruelly barged down by Javi Garcia, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Damir Skomina showed a yellow card to Benfica skipper Maxi Pereira, which would cost the full back later on.

That allowed Lampard to drive the ball under the outstretched arms of Artur and into the back of the net to give Di Matteo’s side a comfortable two-goal lead on aggregate.

Midway through the first half, David Luiz attempted one trick too many and allowed Gaitan to race forward, but the Argentinian midfielder’s cross was blocked by John Terry.

The Chelsea skipper came to the rescue again a minute later after a good move from a free kick found Axel Witsel at the back post and he knocked it down for Oscar Cardozo, who was free on the penalty spot, but his drive towards goal was cleared by Terry on the line.

Five minutes before the break, things went from bad to worse for the Portuguese outfit as Pereira was shown his second yellow card of the evening for a lunge on John Obi Mikel, leaving his side left to play out the rest of the match with 10 men.  

The visitors came out with a purpose for the second half and were nearly rewarded straight away as a slick passing move saw the ball arrive at the feet of Cardozo, but his strike was superbly tipped round the post by Chelsea stopper Cech.

Di Matteo’s side should have wrapped up the game as they broke down the left-hand side of the penalty area, with Salomon Kalou leaving Ramires with a mere tap-in from a yard out but the Brazilian midfielder somehow failed to convert.

The English side continued to search out the goal that would ultimately kill the game off as a contest, with both Juan Mata and Torres having strikes on goal within seconds of each other, but neither could find a way past Artur.

Benfica nearly claimed a goal back as the Chelsea defence seemed to fall asleep, allowing the ball to eventually find substitute Yannick Djalo, but his striker from just inside the area was blocked by the home defence and went out for a corner.

Mata could have finished off the game Kalou picked out his bursting run into the box, but the Spanish midfielder’s strike could only go across the face of Artur’s goal and out for a goal kick.

After so many missed chances, the Stamford Bridge faithful must have feared the worst when a corner from the left wing in the 85th minute found Javi Garcia free in front of goal and he headed the ball into the back of the net to give Benfica a glimmer of hope.

But with Benfica moving everyone forward, the Blues broke and substitute Raul Meireles unleashed an unstoppable strike to send Chelsea into the semi-final stage of the Champions League.

Source: goal.com

Premier League - March 10th

Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool

Second-half Bendtner strike consigns Dalglish's men to third straight league defeat

The on-loan Arsenal striker converted from close range in the second half to seal the points for the Black Cats, as the Reds lose further ground on the European qualification spots

Nicklas Bendtner's second half goal consigned Liverpool to a third straight Premier League defeat as Sunderland emerged victorious in a poor game at the Stadium of Light

Both sides struggled to produce clear-cut chances in a scrappy first half that barely improved after the break, despite Bendtner's winning goal.

Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll were introduced late in the game by Kenny Dalglish but Liverpool continued to struggle for ideas and could not find an equaliser.

The result lifts Sunderland, at least temporarily, with West Brom and Norwich City playing on Sunday, up to eighth place while Liverpool lose further ground on the European qualification spots and remain seventh.

With Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon suspended following last weekend's fiery derby against Newcastle United, Jack Colback partnered Craig Gardner in midfield for Sunderland. Wayne Bridge made his first start since signing on loan in the absence of Kieran Richardson.

Sebastian Coates started alongside Martin Skrtel in the Liverpool defence, with Jamie Carragher on the bench. Gerrard and Stewart Downing were also rested so Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy joined the starting XI. 

Otherwise, the first 45 minutes left much to be desired. Liverpool began the match with a five-man midfield but failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority in the centre of the park, hitting hopeful long balls that were ineffective in the absence of Carroll and they also had a strong wind to contend with.

Martin O'Neill fielded Bendtner and Fraizer Campbell in attack for the first time but did not see too much early promise from the duo. The Denmark international peeled away from the opposition defenders with some success, occasionally finding space in and around the penalty area, but was not helped by the lack of creativity around him.

Bendtner did latch on to a long ball that beat Coates midway through the first half, but his low cross was deflected clear.

Pepe Reina will remember the Stadium of Light for the infamous beach ball incident and he was unfortunate once again here to concede the first goal of the match. Sunderland were the quicker side out of the blocks in the second half and were rewarded after 55 minutes.

Campbell received a pass on the edge of the box and turned to cut across Skrtel before firing a low shot against the post. The 24-year-old's effort proceeded to bounce off of Reina's back, back on to the post and out to the arriving Bendtner, who converted from close range beyond the stranded goalkeeper.

Suarez combined well with Jordan Henderson only to shoot wide shortly after the opening goal but otherwise the Reds' response was minimal. Gerrard and Carroll were introduced – somewhat belatedly, it might be argued – with 20 minutes to go as Kenny Dalglish sought to rescue a share of the points.

The early signs were encouraging, with Carroll nodding a pass into the path of Gerrard, whose shot from distance was held by Mignolet. That positivity quickly petered out, though, with Sunderland finding more and more space in the opposition half as Liverpool looked to push men forwards.

O'Neill's team lost Bendtner to injury late on in the game but survived a late chance for Kuyt to secure three points that take them within two points of their opponents, although Liverpool retain a game in hand.

Chelsea 1-0 Stoke City 

Drogba pounces to give Di Matteo a second straight win against 10-man Potters

The Ivorian's 100th goal for the club secured vital three points whilst Tony Pulis' men will no doubt rue the brainless behaviour of striker Ricardo Fuller, who was sent off

Didier Drogba's second-half strike helped Roberto Di Matteo to his second win as Chelsea manager as his team defeated 10-man Stoke 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The Potters came into the game having failed to win a league game against the Blues home or away since 1975 and matters were not helped by Ricardo Fuller's sending off for a crass stamp on Branislav Ivanovic in the first half.

Chances were hard to come by, but Chelsea's patience was rewarded in the second half as Drogba latched onto a Juan Mata through-ball to net his 100th Chelsea goal. 

The hosts began encouragingly, pressing Stoke deep and forcing an early mix-up between Ryan Shawcross and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic that saw the centre-half's header land on the roof of his own net.

On the fourth minute Chelsea forged their first clear chance. An out-swinging Lampard corner was met by the unmarked Ivanovic and although the Serbian right-back connected well, it was a poor header, sailing just over the crossbar when it looked easier to score. 

But as the hosts verged on opening the scoring, John Walters carved a chance of his own. The striker chased a long ball, the Irish forward got away with tripping Terry as the two came together on the halfway line, before shooting twice, failing to score on both occasions.

Walters' strike partner Fuller fared even worse as he received his marching orders after just 25 minutes. He chased a long pass and as Ivanovic slid to hook the ball to safety, the Jamaican reacted impetuously by deliberately stamping down on the Chelsea defender, prompting Andre Marriner to show him the red card. 

Chelsea continued to search for the opener and Ivanovic, who was afforded far too much space, played a one-two with Lampard on the edge of the box leading to a looped header that was claimed by Begovic on his goal-line. 

As half-time approached, Di Matteo made his first substitution, introducing the mercurial Mata for Raul Meireles. 

But it was Ivanovic, who pounced on a loose clearance in the visitors' box and smashed a half volley against the crossbar as Di Matteo's team closed the half on a high.

The hosts continued to lack creativity in the final third and the only chances of the first 15 minutes of the second-half came from long-range efforts from Lampard, Luiz and Terry. The home support seemed notably more patient and were almost treated to a splendid Drogba goal as Begovic flew to his left and tipped the shot over the bar. 

But it wasn't long until Drogba did find the net. Mata found room on the edge of the box and slipped the ball into Drogba whose first touch drew Begovic from goal. His second allowed him to round the Bosnian leaving an open goal for the 34-year-old to break the deadlock and bring relief to Stamford Bridge. 

Lampard came close to doubling the lead minutes later but his fierce shot from 25 yards was smuggled away by the busy Begovic. 

As the game neared its conclusion, Mata almost left the supporters with a final reason to cheer. His curling left-footed free-kick beat Begovic but rebounded back off the upright – the third time in the game the hosts had hit the woodwork. 

Following today's game, Chelsea are fifth in the standings with 49 points, while Stoke sit 10th with 36.

Source: goal.com

FA Cup

Birmingham 0 Chelsea 2

AVB who? Roberto the Cup legend leads Blues revival

Roberto Di Matteo may not be a candidate to replace Andre Villas-Boas on a permanent basis but he has reinforced his status as Chelsea's FA Cup legend. 

Di Matteo, for all his self-confidence, is unlikely to become too comfortable in the role despite two goals in six second-half minutes from Juan Mata and Raul Meireles to beat a depleted Birmingham team and advance into the last eight. 

The three-year Villas-Boas project lasted less than nine months, so the interim manager will take it one step at a time. Next up are Stoke, on Saturday, then Napoli in the Champions League before the quarter-final at home to Leicester.

Juan-nil: Spain midfielder Mata celebrates after putting Chelsea ahead at St Andrew's

Beat Leicester and it is back to Wembley for the man who scored historic FA Cup final goals for Chelsea as they won the trophy in 1997 and 2000. 

The omens are good. When Guus Hiddink took control from Luiz Felipe Scolari, three years ago, his first game was an FA Cup tie at Watford and he went on to win the competition at Wembley. 

Scolari banked his pay-off, watched from a distance and still seems bitter about it. If Villas-Boas was looking on, he will have detected slight signs of improvement from the same players who resisted his changes and rebelled against him. 

There were few signs of mourning, apart from Meireles, who refused to celebrate his brilliant goal and Di Matteo, his former assistant, who dedicated the win to the manager who departed on Sunday. 

'Roman Abramovich, he sacks who he wants,' sang Chelsea  supporters with more than a hint of glee. This was their first chance to offer an opinion on the managerial change and the game had barely kicked off when they chanted the name of Jose Mourinho. More than 3,000 fans had travelled and they also made their feelings known that they did not want Rafa Benitez.

Di Matteo made changes. First he changed his tracksuit for a skinny tie and posh overcoat and gave the squad a little shake as he selected his first team since he was sacked by West Bromwich 13 months ago.
There were five changes to the Chelsea team beaten at the Hawthorns on Saturday in what would prove the last game of the Villas-Boas era. On the bench were Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, although they were apparently assured that this was a decision made with the next two fixtures, and the rest of the season, in mind.

On the touchline: Chelsea caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo (right) gives his orders

Ashley Cole was injured but John Terry was among the substitutes less than a fortnight after a knee operation which was expected to keep him out for up to eight weeks.
Perhaps more significantly, Di Matteo made a tweak to the usual Chelsea shape. The 4-3-3 became a 4-2-3-1 formation with Meireles and John Mikel Obi deployed as deep midfielders and Mata playing up front, just behind Fernando Torres.

No spring in his step: Chelsea's misfiring striker Fernando Torres did not score yet again

The inability to make Torres function effectively played a part in the downfall of Villas-Boas, who irritated Abramovich by comparing his poor form and fragile confidence to other expensive misfits Andriy Shevchenko and Mateja Kezman. 

On his 50th Chelsea appearance, Torres continued to look timid and hesitant at the times when instinct ought to kick in. When a clear chance dropped on his left foot in first-half stoppage time, he screwed it badly wide and after he was tripped for a penalty in the second half and Mata stepped forward to take it, the home crowd chanted: 'We want Torres.'

They need not have worried. Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle saved Mata's penalty, just as he had in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge but, by then, Chelsea were two up and on the way to ending a run of three successive away defeats.
Chris Hughton's side, playing their 47th game of the season, had resisted well in the first half. Chelsea were vulnerable when defending against counter-attacks and set-pieces and Petr Cech was forced to scramble and turn a header from Nikola Zigic over, five minutes before the interval.

Packs a punch: Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech stretches to repel a Birmingham cross

Zigic had stitches in a cut above his left eye after taking a boot in the face from David Luiz but his effort from Jordon Mutch's cross nearly embarrassed the expensive central defensive partnership. 

Late on, a dreadful clearance from Gary Cahill gave a chance to Marlon King but Cech saved and Mutch tore clean through only to blaze over.

Problems remain for Chelsea despite the departure of Villas-Boas but they were good enough to seize control after the break and it was Mata who found the breakthrough, nine minutes into the second half. 

Ramires stole the ball from Mutch on the right and Salomon Kalou, bright on his first start since October, fought down his cross in the goalmouth. It spilled to Mata who adjusted his feet and poked a shot inside the far post. The tension eased away.

Back on the bench: John Terry was in Chelsea's squad despite his recent knee surgery

Mata headed wide from a Branislav Ivanovic cross and, on the hour, Meireles pounced to score a wonderful second. Again it came from a move down the right and Ramires nursed a short pass into his path and the Portuguese midfielder fired a right-footer into the top corner. 

He refused to celebrate, pushing his team-mates away angrily but the overwhelming vibe from Chelsea as they tossed shirts to the fans at the end was one of relief. They are back on the Wembley trail and free from the stifling attention to detail of AVB.

In focus

John Terry 

Chelsea fans would have been surprised and delighted to see their captain sitting on the bench so soon after his knee injury.

Fernando Torres

The 50th appearance in a Chelsea shirt for the £50m man. In that time he has averaged just 2.5 goals per manager.

Rafael Benitez

The 3,000 travelling supporters made it clear in explicit terms that they do not want the Spaniard at Chelsea.

Source: mailonline