Chelsea make great comeback to reach Real Madrid Champions League semifinals

MADRID – Real Madrid saw a thrilling Chelsea fight to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals after losing 3-2 in extra time in a glittering second-leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, leading 5-4 on aggregate.

Mason Mount, Antonio Rudigar’s goal and Timo Warner’s excellent personal effort helped Chelsea look to complete a surprise comeback after leading 3-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final.

Yet the hosts came back roaring, with Rodrigo Luka Modric’s great pass bringing the collective to a 4-4 draw and Karim Benzema tying in extra time as he went home to decide a great fight.

Real Madrid will now face Manchester City or local rivals Atletico Madrid in the last four, with England leading 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final in Spain on Wednesday.

It was a Champions League night for ages at a packed stadium as a brilliant Chelsea came within 10 minutes of completing a rescue which their manager Thomas Touchel said they were unlikely to accomplish.

His team took the game to Real Madrid as they sought to turn a two-goal deficit from the first leg and it took just 15 minutes to open a through-ball score behind Mount’s defense.

Chelsea were more aggressive after the break and scored their second goal in 51 overs^St. In that minute Rudigar headed in a header from Warner Corner to level the score at 3-3.

Four minutes later, Warner spotted Marcos Alonso inside the area and he thrashed his finish into the top corner only to be stunned by a video assistant referee who saw a handball from the Spanish left back.

Despite being at the top of the spectators, it was only a matter of time before they reached their third score of 75.^M Minutes from a brilliant piece of personal skill from Warner, who left two opponents on the ground before sending a precise shot past Cortois and inside the far post.

In the next step, Kai Hawartz was rejected by former Chelsea defender Cortois, who made a great save to stop his close-range header.

Even then, when Real were out of the game, Modric worked his magic, finding his substitute Rodrigo in the far post with a delightful pass out of his boot that the Brazilian had lost to Edward Mendy in the 80’s.^M To take the game to extra time.

For Vinicius, Jr. and Benzema, it was to show and rescue Real Madrid that they suffered the biggest blow at home.

Vinicius works his way in from the left corner, and sends a beautiful cross over Benzema’s head, and the French player shoots it over Mandy as the house fans burst into joy.

“It was another incredible night, a loss of sweet taste,” Modric told Movister Plus.

“It simply came to our notice then. Going to 0-3 but I don’t think we played a bad game. Another night of hardship, but the important thing is that we have qualified. ” – Reuters