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Played
November 23, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
BayArena — Leverkusen
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 29285
November 23, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
BayArena — Leverkusen
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 29285
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| Bayer Leverkusen | 3.20 | 11.00 | 3.25 | 15.00 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 8.50 | 3.50 | 3.10 |
| Draw | 3.25 | 1.08 | 3.25 | 1.08 | 3.25 | 3.20 | 1.20 | 3.30 | 3.25 |
| Chelsea | 2.30 | 9.00 | 2.20 | 13.00 | 2.25 | 2.30 | 7.50 | 2.28 | 2.25 |
Top of the Match
Manuel Friedrich
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Michael Ballack
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Flop of the Match
Petr Cech
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
André Villas-Boas
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea: Friedrich piles on woe for Villas-Boas with stoppage-time winner as hosts come from behind to qualify
Drogba gave the visitor’s the lead, but Eren Derdiyok’s equaliser followed by the centre-back’s late goal mean the Blues need victory against Valencia to guarantee progression
By Steve Hewlett
A late Manuel Freidrich goal sealed a dramatic 2-1 win for Bayer Leverkusen against Chelsea on Wednesday, as the German side came from behind to secure qualification from Champions League Group E.
Second-half goals from Didier Drogba and Eren Derdiyok seemed to ensure the tie would end as a draw, until the late drama swung the game in the host's favour and continued Chelsea's poor run of form, with now just two wins in their previous seven outings.
Ashley Cole's omission was the biggest news before the game as the England international made way for Jose Boswingwa due to an ankle injury, with Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata joining Drogba in the visitors' attacking trio.
Both sides nullified the threat of each other in the first half, with neither able take the game by the scruff of the neck as momentum swung in both teams favour but nothing of real substance was created.
Chelsea’s early notable attempts were both from free-kicks, with Frank Lampard firstly clearing over the bar before Drogba's tame effort from 30 yards easily fell into the grasp of goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Michael Ballack came close to opening the scoring on 33 minutes from a corner on the right, with the former Chelsea man rising highest to loop a header over Petr Cech, only for the crossbar to deny him a goal against his former employers.
The atmosphere soon soured in the BayArena, with the Leverkusen fans incensed by referee Kassai's decisions to book Stefan Keissling, Michal Kadlec and Ballack in quick succession.
Lever-cruisin' | The Bundesliga side's late goal ensured qualification
By far the clearest chance of the half came when a smart through ball from Sturridge split open the hosts' defence and found Drogba. The striker rounded Leno, but the tight angle prevented the Ivorian from grabbing the lead as his shot floated over the bar.
The 33-year-old was not to make the same mistake after the restart however when good work by Sturridge on the right presented the ball to Drogba, who managed to beat Freidrich and Omer Toprak before swivelling and slotting the ball beyond Leno and into the back of the net.
Ballack proved to be a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side, as the veteran continued to test Cech as Leverkusen searched for a way back into the game. The stopper did well to tip over the midfielder's overhead kick, before another sprawling save moments later denied the German once again.
Leverkusen began to build sustained pressure, and should have been level had Keissling been able to direct his header either side of Cech, instead of straight at the goalkeeper.
With time slipping away Robin Dutt rolled the dice and changed his formation as his side looked to snatch something from the game, with full-back Kadlec brought off for forward Derdiyok.
The gamble paid off almost immediately, as a probing cross deep from Castro flummoxed the Chelsea defence and allowed Sidney Sam to sneak in behind and fire back across the goal for Derdiyok to nod home the equaliser.
As the game looked to be heading for a draw a late sting in the tail was in store for Chelsea as more good work from Castro earned the home side a corner on the right. As the ball was delivered, Freidrich rose highest to nod the ball home and send the Bay Arena in to rapture with a dramatic late winner.
It was the cruellest of blows to Chelsea, who looked to have done enough to ensure progression, but all is not lost for Villas-Boas' men, as a win against Valencia will secure qualification, whilst Leverkusen can relax in the knowledge that their path is assured.
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Second-half goals from Didier Drogba and Eren Derdiyok seemed to ensure the tie would end as a draw, until the late drama swung the game in the host's favour and continued Chelsea's poor run of form, with now just two wins in their previous seven outings.
Ashley Cole's omission was the biggest news before the game as the England international made way for Jose Boswingwa due to an ankle injury, with Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata joining Drogba in the visitors' attacking trio.
Both sides nullified the threat of each other in the first half, with neither able take the game by the scruff of the neck as momentum swung in both teams favour but nothing of real substance was created.
Chelsea’s early notable attempts were both from free-kicks, with Frank Lampard firstly clearing over the bar before Drogba's tame effort from 30 yards easily fell into the grasp of goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Michael Ballack came close to opening the scoring on 33 minutes from a corner on the right, with the former Chelsea man rising highest to loop a header over Petr Cech, only for the crossbar to deny him a goal against his former employers.
The atmosphere soon soured in the BayArena, with the Leverkusen fans incensed by referee Kassai's decisions to book Stefan Keissling, Michal Kadlec and Ballack in quick succession.
Lever-cruisin' | The Bundesliga side's late goal ensured qualification
By far the clearest chance of the half came when a smart through ball from Sturridge split open the hosts' defence and found Drogba. The striker rounded Leno, but the tight angle prevented the Ivorian from grabbing the lead as his shot floated over the bar.
The 33-year-old was not to make the same mistake after the restart however when good work by Sturridge on the right presented the ball to Drogba, who managed to beat Freidrich and Omer Toprak before swivelling and slotting the ball beyond Leno and into the back of the net.
Ballack proved to be a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side, as the veteran continued to test Cech as Leverkusen searched for a way back into the game. The stopper did well to tip over the midfielder's overhead kick, before another sprawling save moments later denied the German once again.
Leverkusen began to build sustained pressure, and should have been level had Keissling been able to direct his header either side of Cech, instead of straight at the goalkeeper.
With time slipping away Robin Dutt rolled the dice and changed his formation as his side looked to snatch something from the game, with full-back Kadlec brought off for forward Derdiyok.
The gamble paid off almost immediately, as a probing cross deep from Castro flummoxed the Chelsea defence and allowed Sidney Sam to sneak in behind and fire back across the goal for Derdiyok to nod home the equaliser.
As the game looked to be heading for a draw a late sting in the tail was in store for Chelsea as more good work from Castro earned the home side a corner on the right. As the ball was delivered, Freidrich rose highest to nod the ball home and send the Bay Arena in to rapture with a dramatic late winner.
It was the cruellest of blows to Chelsea, who looked to have done enough to ensure progression, but all is not lost for Villas-Boas' men, as a win against Valencia will secure qualification, whilst Leverkusen can relax in the knowledge that their path is assured.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match- Fans' Flop of the Match
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
|
Mario Gomez
Striker Bayern Munich |
13 | 0 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
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Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
|
Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |
