Chelsea do it again
- Published: 20 May 2012 at 02.52
- Online news:
MUNICH : Chelsea put four penalties past Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to seal victory and win an improbable Champions League title Sunday morning (Thailand time).
The penalty shoot-out began after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw in regulation time, and then played another half an hour without a goal.
Didier Drogba, who had equalised for Chelsea two minutes from time, struck the winning kick past Manuel Neuer as the visitors edged the shootout 4-3 after Bastian Schweinsteiger's last kick for Bayern had hit the post. Neuer made one save and also scored one penalty goal.
Bayern, playing in their home stadium, laid siege to Chelsea's goal for most of the game and appeared to have won it when Thomas Mueller finally made the breakthrough with an 83rd minute header past Petr Cech.
Within touching distance of lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 2001, Bayern conceded with two minutes remaining when Drogba met a corner with a thumping header to give Neuer no chance.
Bayern, four-times winners, were stunned and extra time could not separate the sides despite Bayern earning a penalty which Arjen Robben saw saved by Cech.
Chelsea lost to Manchester United in the 2008 final on penalties but erased that painful memory as they held their nerve to become London's first European champions.
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