Nkem Ike Reports
The season that defied credibility for Chelsea reached an epic, extraordinary climax on an early summer's night in Bavaria. Didier Drogba, with what may be his last kick for the club, struck a penalty to the right of Manuel Neuer and won the Champions League trophy for the west London club. And so ended the nine-year odyssey that began when Roman Abramovich took over this club and transformed European football.
Against ridiculous odds that had seen the Blues face Bayern Munich in their own backyard, they were even forced to take spot-kicks in front of the end housing their rivals’ supporters.
For Blues owner Roman Abramovich, this was not a dream, it was an obsession. In his nine years at Stamford Bridge, he has axed eight managers, signed 66 players and spent over £1billion.
But even the Russian could not have imagined that an ageing squad and a rookie manager would finally bring home the trophy he describes as football’s holy grail.
On a night of tension and excitement, Roberto Di Matteo’s men had looked dead and buried more than once.
Thomas Muller gave Bayern the lead on 83 minutes only for Didier Drogba to level with a powerful header from Juan Mata’s 88th-minute corner.
Striker Drogba then went from hero to villain as he brought down Franck Ribery inside Chelsea’s box in the opening stages of extra-time.
But Petr Cech denied former Blues winger Arjen Robben from the resulting penalty.
The drama did not end there, though, as Chelsea struggled with fatigue, lost the toss as the game went to penalties and were forced to embark on a shootout in front of Bayern’s fans.
Mata missed Chelsea’s first spot-kick to give Bayern the upper hand after Philipp Lahm had opened the scoring.
Mario Gomez made it 2-0 before David Luiz eventually got Chelsea off the mark.
But Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer appeared to put the trophy out of Chelsea’s reach by netting to make it 3-1.
Frank Lampard gave the Blues hope before the drama really unfolded when Cech denied sub Ivica Olic brilliantly and Ashley Cole brought Chelsea level at 3-3.
Then when midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger missed, it was probably only fitting that Drogba, who had carried Chelsea to the final, should bury the crucial kick.
All the early pressure came from Bayern as they attempted to torture Chelsea using the pace of wingers Ribery and Robben.
The first sight of goal fell to Bayern as Toni Kroos unleashed a right-footed drive that flew past Cech’s right-hand post.
Even at an early stage, it was evident Bayern were going to see far more of the ball and Chelsea were likely to rely on quick, counter-attacking football — just like they did against Barcelona in the semi-finals.
It needed a breathtaking save from Cech to deny Robben.
The Dutchman was poised to wheel away in celebration but saw the ball come off the keeper’s leg and divert on to the angle of the post and bar.
Yet it was near suicidal defending from Jose Boswinga that almost handed Bayern the initiative when he made a complete hash of clearing Lampard’s backpass.
If Chelsea were going to overcome a side that had won seven straight home games en route to the final, they were going to do it the hard way.
Muller should have given Bayern the lead, firing wide with a volley from a pinpoint Diego Contento cross.
Chelsea then produced their best move of the half nine minutes before the break.
Drogba cushioned the ball and laid it off to Lampard, who found Salomon Kalou. He strode forward before firing in a shot that Neuer did well to save at his near post.
It brought an instant reaction from Bayern but the outstanding Gary Cahill was equal to Gomez as the striker attempted to turn and get his shot away.
After the break Bayern picked up where they had left off, with Robben ballooning the ball over having raced into Chelsea’s box before Ribery found the net on 54 minutes — only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
Ashley Cole then came to the Blues’ rescue, blocking a goalbound shot from Robben.
Even Chelsea’s talisman Drogba began to sit deep, leaving the Blues with few attacking options when they did manage to clear the ball.
Robben was continuing to play like a man possessed but even he was becoming frustrated by his side’s inability to turn possession into clear-cut chances.
With 12 minutes left, Muller had a great chance to put Bayern ahead but lost his footing and fired wide.
But his luck changed on 83 minutes when his superb downward header beat Cech to make it 1-0.
Di Matteo threw on Fernando Torres for Kalou with six minutes left and, with time running out, they won a corner on the right.
Mata stepped up and his delivery found Drogba, who powered his header home.
Again Bayern came back at Chelsea and should have regained the lead through Olic — but he shot inches wide when unmarked.
The Blues were now playing for penalties, a dangerous tactic given England’s record against German sides and their spot-kick pain against Manchester United in 2008.
Luckily, for Abramovich, his ageing stars had not read the script.
But barely minutes into extra-time, Drogba took away Ribery’s legs inside Chelsea’s penalty area.
Robben stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick but Cech came out on top.
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