Last 8: Leg 2, Day 1

Valencia 1-2 Chelsea (Agg: 2-3, Chelsea advances)

Chelsea pulled off yet another last minute victory as Ghanaian international midfielder Michael Essien drove home the tie winner in the 91st minute of play against Valencia and became the first English side to win at the Mestalla in 40 years. Los Che struck first when Spanish international Fernando Morientes who returned early from a shoulder injury delivered a lighting strike off a superb cross by Valenica defender Luis Miguel in the 33rd minute. But Chelsea was poised to score in the second half as they've done so many times this year. The equaliser came in the 53rd minute when Ukrainian international forward Andriy Schevchenko made good on a rebound off a Frank Lampard free kick. Chelsea kept pressing through the remainder of the game yet the tie seemed destined for extra time as the sides were locked in a 2-2 aggregate deadlock. But Michael Essien, also back from injury, delivered the knockout blow in the first minute of penalty time thus dashing the hopes of the last Spanish side remaining and keeping Mourinho and Co.'s dreams of a quadruple crown alive and well. Nutmeg's bonus pick club looms large on the horizon much like the Deathstar of the Evil Empire. Can't you just hear the menacing soundtrack in the background?


Manchester United 7-1 Roma (Agg: 8-3, Man U advances)

AS Roma were the unfortunate recipients of a good ol' fashioned ass whuppin' at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford. Seemingly everyone got a piece of the action for United with Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney, and Patrice Evra each scoring a goal and Michael Carrick and Christiano Ronaldo with two each. For Ronaldo it marked the first Champions League goals of his young but illustrious career. Roma came out relatively strong and nursing their 2-1 aggregate advantage but by the time the 20th minute rolled around the Giallorossi found themselves down by 3. The rest of the match Roma looked completely flat. Star Italian international and Roma captain Francesco Totti can add one other item to his list of reasons he doesn't care for England (besides their style of soccer and the weather): it was the site of the most humiliating defeat of his professional career. Schubin must have been smiling big as his boys piled on the goals and assured themselves of a spot in the Last 4.