Round of 4: Leg 2, Day 2 Result

Frank Lampard kisses his black armband as he dedicates his extra-time penalty goal to his recently deceased mother.

Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool {Agg: 4-3, Chelsea advances}

Chelsea finally shook the Liverpool monkey off their backs as they vaulted to the CL Final on a famous night in Stamford Bridge. The Reds had eliminated the Blues in the semifinal stage in two of the the last three seasons but could not complete the treble in what proved to be a highly emotional match for the home side. Chelsea's veteran midfielder Frank Lampard was playing with a heavy heart due to the untimely passing of his mother to pneumonia last Thursday. Indeed it was questionable as to whether he would be present at all, but the star proved to be a deciding factor in the match. Didier Drogba opened the scoring by beautifully one-timing a rebound off a Salomon Kalou strike with deadly force and accuracy. Chelsea enjoyed the run of play through most of the first half, but Liverpool came out determined in the second. In the 64th minute the visitors found the equaliser when Fernando Torres deftly converted a Yossi Benayoun pass after the young Israeli skillful dribbled through four defenders. Locked at 1-1, the tie headed to extra time where the highest drama of the night occurred. A heavy Sami Hyypiä challenge on Michael Ballack awarded the grieving Lampard a chance to score on a penalty which the veteran cooly converted. After the score Lampard broke down in tears surrounded by his teammates. Didier Drogba all but finished off the tie with his second goal of the match in minute 105. Substitue Ryan Babel brought Liverpool tantalizingly back in the 27th minute of extra time, but the comeback was not to be. With the win, Chelsea's much maligned Israeli manager accomplishes what Jose "The Special One" Mourinho never did, a first-ever appearance for the Blues in the CL Final.