Round of 8: Leg 2, Day 1 Results

Liverpool's unstoppable Fernando Torres delivers yet another blow.

Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal {Agg: 5-3, Liverpool advances}

The tension was palpable for the vast majority of Arsenal and Liverpool's see-saw return leg at Anfield as the English clubs clashed for the 3rd time in 8 days with both previous matches ending in 1-1 stalemates. It was the Gunners who grabbed the early intiative with a sublime first half of football and a 1-0 lead by virtue of Abou Diaby's 13th minute opener. Despite their off-balance start the Reds' Sami Hyypiä brought the home side back into the tie with the equaliser in the 30th minute. Spanish starlet Fernando Torres continued his fierce form when he put Liverpool ahead with a 69th minute stunner. But the drama only intensified when Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor converted after another beautiful run by Theo Walcott with just 7 minutes left in regulation. The 2-2 draw would have been enough for the Gunners to advance on away goals, but their celebration was short lived when Liverpool immediately attacked and were awarded a controversial penalty on a Kolo Toure foul in the area. Captain Steven Gerrard cooly converted and once again established the Reds' advantage. Still on a knife's edge, the victory was sealed when substitute Ryan Babel scored on a counter attack two minutes into extra time sending Anfield into a frenzy. Liverpool advance to their 3rd Last 4 appearance in 4 years where they've faced Chelsea each time. The more things change...


Chelsea 2-0 Fenerbahçe {Agg: 3-2, Chelsea advances}

German international captain Michael Ballack grabbed the tie advantage for home side Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in just the 4th minute of play. Despite the lead, the Londoners played most of the match on a razor's edge as a single Fenerbahçe goal would have seen the Turkish side advance on away goals. But pressure as they might the men from Istanbul could not find the back of the net, and Frank Lampard put the tie out of reach when he converted a Michael Essien cross with 3 minutes of regulation time to go. Thus the Cinderella Yellow Canaries (and their rabid fans) drop unceremoniously out of the competition and Chelsea advances to their 4th CL semifinal appearance in 5 years where they will play Liverpool for the 3rd time in 4 years. I can hardly contain my excitement.