No Smoking at The Bridge

By Since66
May 3 2013

A nine minute second-half cruise saw Chelsea overcome a 1-0 half-time deficit (late goals at important times are becoming back in vogue and with SAF time and Webb in charge on Sunday… who knows?!?) against a fearless FC Basel side at Stamford Bridge last night as Torres, Moses and a stunning  pearler from David Luiz splashed the cruise as Chelsea progressed to Amsterdam to face Benfica in the final of the Europa League.

No sooner had the final whistle sounded and the ground staff sorted out the pitch, the cleaners got out their polish and brooms, the Europa League final ticket allocation and selling dates were announced.

For a 52k capacity stadium, Chelsea have been allocated 9.8k.

9.8K!!

It is likely Benfica have been allocated the same so 2 x 9.8K equals 19.6k, which mean UEFA have snapped up for 32.4k tickets for themselves, corporates, sponsors and ‘plastics.’

I mean WTF!!! Who’s final is it?

Obviously not the fans counting the maths and to add insult to injury, Fatty won April’s Manager of the Month award.

I bet on hearing the news, SAF’s nose got even redder!!

Super ‘201 goal’ Frankie Lampard was a smattering of a coat of paint away from equalling Bobby Tambling’s goalscoring record when he latched on to a sublime Torres chip only to see his effort bounced off the post and away to safety in a frenetic Chelsea first half hour.

Leading up to Luiz’s pearler, Super ‘201 goal’ Frankie Lampard looked like he was ready to launch his foot at the ball as he controlled the pass, but Luiz had other ideas and launched his left foot instead and once connected, Luiz raced away in celebration before the ball had crashed into the net.

A surreal moment inside the Bridge before the crowd celebrated as they witnessed a truly special moment and probably……. probably witnessed THE best goal ever scored at the Bridge since the Abramovich era began and of course, let’s not forget there have been some special goals, notably Essien’s volley against Barcelona in 2009 which immediately springs to mind (Add yours below.)

The Europa League final is on Wednesday 15^th May 2013 in the Amsterdam Arena, k.o.7.45pm, but before that, Chelsea U18s are at home to Norwich in the 2^nd leg of the FA Youth Cup on Monday 13^th May, k.o.7.45pm who trail Norwich 1-0 after that last gasp penalty given away by Alex Davey.

There will be LIVE updates on the board from 7.45pm and team news will be published as soon as it becomes available.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Bertrand, Luiz (Ake 81), Lampard (c), Ramires (Oscar 66), Hazard (Mata 74), Moses, Torres.

Goals: Torres 49, Moses  51, Luiz 58

Booked: Azpilicueta 55

FC Basel: Sommer, Steinhofer, Schar, Sauro, Voser, Elneny, F Frei (Diaz 74), Serey Die, Salah, Stocker (D Degen 61), Streller (c) (Zoua 61)

Goal: Salah 45

Booked: Schar 66, Steinhofer 68, Serey Die 88

NEXT UP: Man Utd (a), Sunday 5^th May 2013, k.o. 4pm

COMING UP: FA Youth Cup Final 2^nd Leg v Norwich City (0-1), Monday 13^th May 2013, k.o. 7.45pm

COME ON CHELSEA

TWITTER: @WVOMChelsea