their poor conversion rate of one Champions League final from five previous last-four appearances is likely to continue.
Chelsea, which looked second best for long periods, went through to their sixth semi in the last nine seasons after winning 2-1 in the second leg and 3-1 on aggregate but they were close to losing the tie on away goals in the closing stages.Chelsea will once again meet Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final after being made to sweat late on by 10-man Benfica in a 2-1 victory on the night which completed a 3-1 aggregate quarter-final win.
Frank Lampard’s 21st-minute penalty appeared to calm the home side’s nerves after weathering an early storm, as did the dismissal of the visitors’ stand-in captain Maxi Pereira just before the break.CHELSEA had controversial referee Damir Skomina and goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank last night as they clung on against ten-man Benfica to set up a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Card-crazy Skomina, whose performance in Arsenal’s last-16 exit against AC Milan led to a three-match ban for Arsene Wenger, was at it again at Stamford Bridge as the Blues reached the last four for the sixth time in nine seasons. Frank Lampard opened the scoring after Skomina awarded a hotly-disputed penalty, one of several debatable decisions that included the first-half dismissal of Benfica captain Maxi Pereira.
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