Chelsea hearts broken by late, late Iniesta goal

Chelsea's Michael Essien (left) gives his team the lead with a powerful left volley.-AP Chelsea's Michael Essien (left) gives his team the lead with a powerful left volley.

Chelsea held the advantage against 10 men Barcelona while a goal in front. Ultimately they must accept some of the blame for failing to convert that into a place in the final. There was instead a fifth failure for the club at this juncture in the tournament. By Kevin McCarra.

Despair in a football match cannot come more intolerably or improbably. Barcelona vaulted over Chelsea in the third minute of stoppage time to seize a place in the Champions League final against Manchester United with their sole shot on target. It also stood apart because the strike into the top corner by Andres Iniesta was exquisite after Lionel Messi had set him up on the fringes of the area.

There could be no sportsmanlike appreciation of that drive, which brought triumph on the away-goals rule, when Chelsea had so much to resent. They had seen a few penalty claims denied by Tom Henning Ovrebo and one still remained. In the closing moments Ballack screamed that his drive had been blocked by an arm.

The Norwegian referee was indifferent to the appeals and showed the midfielder a yellow card. A relatively inexperienced Ovrebo was not partisan and had dismissed Eric Abidal questionably in the 66th minute for denying Nicolas Anelka a goal scoring opportunity.

However, the official did not inspire any confidence whatsoever. Mayhem broke out with the Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, and his backroom staff bursting out of their technical area, at the equaliser.

Didier Drogba, who had been substituted, harangued Ovrebo at the end and received a booking before yelling an obscenity into a television microphone.

United's disinterested reaction to this outcome would be interesting to hear. Sir Alex Ferguson had been anticipating a rematch with Chelsea, who were beaten on penalties in the Moscow final a year ago. Now United are to meet Guardiola's line-up, who ? will lack a suspended Daniel Alves as well as Abidal. United must suppose that they can bottle up Barcelona as they did in last season's semi-final.

Such considerations felt academic amid the rawness of Stamford Bridge. Guus Hiddink, the temporary manager, has an FA Cup final to come but that must look a negligible prize now.

There is a to-and-froing of discussion and recrimination ahead. The Dutchman, after all, opted to take off Drogba when his side led against a Barcelona depleted by the loss of Abidal.

Hiddink thereby removed one threat who might have pinned down the visitors. Drogba had received treatment on his ankle and may have been injured but he certainly looked in rude health when entering the field in protest at the end. Whatever his condition, Juliano Belletti, the midfielder who replaced him, could not make Barcelona retreat.

For a range of reasons this will be remembered as Drogba's night, several of them not at all to his credit. The striker was at his most wasteful in the 53rd minute.

Florent Malouda fed Anelka, who rolled the ball across the penalty area from the left. Drogba created a problem for himself with a heavy first touch. He still squirmed inside but his finish broke from the leg of the goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Chelsea ought to have exposed the brittleness at the core of Barcelona's defence, where Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol were absent through injury and suspension respectively.

Yaya Toure, a midfielder by trade, showed little conception of centre-back play but Chelsea could not punish the deficiency fully.

Their goal was spectacular but utterly unpredictable. A Frank Lampard ball came back off Toure and Michael Essien, from some 22 yards, hit a thunderous yet controlled volley with his left foot. There was no prospect of Valdes saving it and the underside of the bar directed it into the corner of the net

Hiddink did wish to be bold. That was reflected in the preference of an attacking right-back, Jose Bosingwa, over the conservative Branislav Ivanovic. The ineffective visitors also felt the absence of Thierry Henry, who had been dynamic in the first leg. He had not got over a knee injury.

Chelsea, unable as they were to keep the ball, had more of an edge to them but that led mostly to demands for a penalty. The best of them may have been Anelka's appeal for handball when a converted penalty would have doubled the lead.

As it was, that precarious 1-0 lead began to gnaw at Hiddink's team as Barcelona discovered a keener purpose following the interval.

The stress endured by Chelsea at Camp Nou was being experienced anew.

It ought to have been dissipated when Abidal was sent off harshly. Drogba's flick sent Anelka racing towards the area. Abidal, intentionally or otherwise, bumped into the Frenchman, who went down. Ovrebo dismissed him.

Chelsea held the advantage against 10 men while a goal in front. Ultimately they must accept some of the blame for failing to convert that into a place in the final. There was instead a fifth failure for the club at this juncture in the tournament.

The ill will and contention bore inevitable echoes of the Mourinho era. A different period, with Hiddink gone, lies ahead, if only because there is a need to replace some ageing players, perhaps including Drogba. Nonetheless, this match will still loom over the newcomers.

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2009