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Chelsea progress after thriller

Apr 14 2009

Chelsea reached the Champions League semi-finals after thwarting an astonishing Liverpool fightback in a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge which must rank as one of the all-time European classics.

Fabio Aurelio's clever free-kick and a Xabi Alonso penalty gave the Reds a 2-0 half-time lead to raise hopes of a Reds comeback, only for Didier Drogba's flick to deceive goalkeeper Jose Reina, who palmed the ball into his own goal early in the second period to initiate a Chelsea revival.

A brutal free-kick from Alex and a tap-in from Frank Lampard sent them ahead but courageous Liverpool, needing to reel in the 3-1 first-leg deficit, dug deep with Lucas and then Dirk Kuyt putting them back in front. But the crucial fifth goal eluded them, and instead Lampard fired in his second in a nail-biting finish.

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