Chelsea 1-1 FC Barcelona

An F-ing disgrace he called it; in an obscenity laden rant caught on camera at the end of the match that saw the Ivorian striker chasing after the Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo off the field and into the tunnel. 5 penalties were due for Chelsea and they were not going to go into the night without venting their fury. Guus Hiddink supported his players. The cameras showed a clear obstruction in the area by fullback Dani Alves on Flourent Malouda in the 25th minute. Then a minute later we saw Eric Abidal tugging at Didier Drogba down for a clear-cut diamond studded penalty: none was awarded. The wonder-goal by Essien in the 9th minute should have been 3 for the Blues at that point. After the break we saw Yaya Toure deputized as an emergency center back fouling the Ivorian again from behind in the 56th minute. The pressure was mounting on both sides for that game-changing goal, Chelsea were winning balls despite a 29% possession of the ball, and Barca were reeling with the unfortunate sending off of Eric Abidal-a make up red card if ever there was one for a non-contact dive by Nico Anelka. Two handballs later, one by Pique and another by Eto'o and the stage was set for Andres Iniesta to provide the only clear shot on goal (top right corner of the net) for the La Liga club to pull through and reach the final against Manchester United in Rome.

The whistle blew and a game that was chippy and foul-ridden, 33 fouls for both squads and 7 yellows with a red card for Barcelona, disintegrated in a stadium filled howl directed through the Ivorian's outstretched finger at a Norwegian ref best known for his offside call on a Luca Toni goal for Italy at the last Euros that incorrectly awarded a draw between the Azzurri and Romania. He did not referee another match at Euro 2008. The inconsolable Drogba will probably face a severe ban for his tirade but his coach Hiddink defended his player. "When you see two, three or four situations waved away, then, yes, it is the worst (refereeing) I have seen. It was the overall feeling of being robbed, of an injustice. That it why it was so hot and angry in the dressing room. I could fully understand the feeling of the players." As for what his players were also saying, "Conspiracy is a very tough word and, if there is, you have to prove it. Obviously there is a lot written and said prior to this game. I can only mention what I see. I cannot say whether UEFA wouldn't like another English final." He didn't say anything there, but he implied it.

Now, I'm not making excuses. At least 2 of those were clear-cut in my book, but in the words of the self-same Hiddink, "It is a man’s game. They shouldn’t try to create things that are not a reality." He said that after the first match in Barcelona when Xavi and Pep Guardiola angrily decried the German refs supposed past relationship with Ballack. You can't have it both ways., Mr. Potato. In the first leg, Chelsea mugged Barcelona for 90 minutes accruing 3 times more cards and fouls than the blaugrana. Ballack should have been sent off for a putrid foul on Iniesta and Bosingwa committed a diamond-studded stone cold penalty. In this match, missing Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez due to injury, and Carles Puyol from suspension, Guardiola slotted in Toure at centerback where his more famous brother Kolo plays and brought in Seydou Keita in Yaya's place. He brought in young Sergi Busquets as another physical presence in the midfield and took Hiddink's advice to make it a man's game. Evenly matched this time around in fouls and in cards given, the "cheating, lying Spanish bastards" gave the English a taste of their own bitter medicine.

The much-maligned Victor Valdez was the unsung hero of the tie; a remarkable double-save on Drogba last week and numerous ones today. Andres Iniesta showed that Barcelona is not Messi-dependent and teams that place three, four and sometimes five defenders on your best player, will have to allow for the skill and determination of his Spanish equal on the other side of the pitch. As for Chelsea? They should have played football at the Camp Nou and they wouldn't have had to beg for a penalty at Stamford Bridge. Does UEFA have a conspiracy against English clubs? Not a chance. It just shows that the English sense of entitlement, that their brand of football is the best in the world come fell or high water, is self-delusional and very fleeting.