Chelsea, reduced to ten men after captain John Terry got himself a red card for a stupid off the ball knee in the back on Alexis, held out to go through to the final of the Champions League.
Goals from Busquets and Iniesta either side of the red card incident put Barcelona well in control and, as usual, they dominated possession, but Chelsea were resolute. Pinned down either in their own half or even their own penalty area for much of the time, they nevertheless managed a few strikes at goal.
Ramires, who was set to miss the final anyway even if Chelsea got through, scored a fine goal on the break and suddenly the impossible became possible.
Barcelona were awarded a penalty when Drogba was adjudged to have tripped Cesc Fabregas inside the area but, unusually, Lionel Messi hit the woodwork. Probably justice as it didn’t seem that there was much, if any contact between the players.
And then, in injury time, Torres, on as a substitute, ran clear, rounded Valdes and popped the ball into the net. It ended 2-2 on the night, 3-2 to Chelsea on aggregate.