Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea: Friedrich Piles On Woe For Villas-Boas With Stoppage-Time Winner As Hosts Come From Behind To Qualify

A late goal from Manuel Freidrich sealed a dramatic win for Bayer Leverkusen as Chelsea let a lead slip from their fingers as a draw seemed to be on the cards in Germany on Wednesday in Champions League Group E. Goals in the second half from Didier Drogba and Eren Derdiyok seemed to ensure the tie was a draw until the late drama swung the game in the host's favour.

The result is another loss for Chelsea as their poor run of two wins in six before kick-off continues.

Ashley Cole's omission was the biggest news before the game as the England international made way for Jose Boswingwa.

The first half was an example nullification. Neither side could take the game by the scruff of the neck and impose their way onto the event. Momentum swung in both teams favour for spells but nothing of real, sustained substance. 

Chelsea’s notable attempts were both from free kicks with Frank Lampard hitting the first miles over the bar and the second seeing Didier Drogba, who up until this point had done virtually nothing, loft the ball up and over the wall but directly into the grasp of Bernd Leno in the Leverkusen net.

Michael Ballack came close to opening the scoring on 33 minutes when from a corner on the right, the former Chelsea man rose highest to loop a header over Petr Cech, who was wearing a matching facemask as the German, only for the crossbar to deny him a goal against his former employer. It was a deft header which could have broken the drudgery of an impotent and at times, timid first half.

If the Leverkusen fans were cursing their luck at the Ballack miss, they were soon incensed by the actions of referee Kassai as a series of decisions went against them. Stefan Keissling received a yellow after protesting his innocence following a fair challenge with Jose Boswinga 

The mood soured further when an accidental handball by Michal Kadlec drew another booking and the third came when Ballack argued his point too much in questioning another decision of the officials.

By far the clearest chance of the opening goal came when a smart through ball from Daniel Sturridge split open the defence of the hosts and let Drogba run free. The striker rounded Leno and looked certain to score but an off balance shot floated over the bar and the Ivorian was 
shocked that he missed from such a range.

With half time to think about his miss before the break, Drogba hit the ground running in the second period as he grabbed the first goal of a frustrating game. More good work by Sturridge on the right presented the ball to Drogba who managed to work the ball away from Manuel Freidrich and Omer Toprak and allowed himself the space to swivel and scoop the ball beyond Leno and into the back of the net.

Ballack continued to be the thorn is Chelsea’s side as the veteran tested Cech further as Leverkusen were searching for a way back into the game. An overhead kick was his first attempt which required Cech to flip the ball over the bar to safety with another sprawling save moments later denying the German once again. 

The pressure from Leverkusen was sustained as a Keissling header from a Castro cross was directed straight at Cech. If only the header was a couple of yards either side of the ‘keeper, the game would be level.

With time slipping away Robin Dutt rolled the dice and changed his formation to reflect the predicament his side were now in. Full-back Kadlec was brought off for forward Eren Derdiyok as the home side decided to go for broke.

The payoff from this gamble was almost immediate as a probing cross deep from Castro flummoxed the Chelsea defence and allowed Sidney Sam to sneak in behind them to cross back across the goal forDerdiyok to nod the ball home and lift the Bay Arena. The game certainly warranted to be level and with parity restored both sides chances of progression into the group stages were still alive.

As the game was ebbing to a draw a late sting in the tail was in store as more good work from Castro earned the home side a corner on the right. As the ball was delievered Freidrich rose high to nod the ball home and send the Bay Arena in rapture with the dramatic late winner.

It was the cruelest of blows to Chelsea who looked to have done enough to ensure progression but as has been the theme of late, things turned bad and Villas-Boas was left with another defeat to explain.

All is not lost for Chelsea as a win against Valencia will see them through, whilst Leverkusen can relax in the knowledge that their path is assured.