There wasn’t much between the two sides — and that alone is credit to Chelsea — especially in the first 45 minutes, but Chelsea were able to come up big when it mattered the most.
At one end, Timo Werner made up for an infuriating offside that ruled out a great goal by being in the right place at the right time to nod into the empty net after Kai Havertz chipped (!) Courtois but hit the crossbar.
At the other end, Edouard Mendy came up big a couple times, when Karim Benzema threatened to do what he did in the first leg, and drag Madrid into the goals by his lonesome.
The second half was an exercise in extreme frustration, as Chelsea missed chance after chance after chance to take the tie beyond the visitors. Havertz hit the woodwork (again), Mount missed a great chance, and Courtois saved from Werner and Havertz, while Valverde made a crucial block on Kante. Then it was Pulisic’s turn to not quite make a couple promising positions to count.
And then, with just five minutes to go, the torture finally ended when Kante made another tremendous interception, Pulisic stayed calm, stranded Courtois, and picked out Mount for an easy finish to make sure of the result.
Chelsea saw out the remaining few minutes with little difficulty.
WE’RE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!!!
Careferee.
When both men and women @ChelseaFCW @ChelseaFC are in the @ChampionsLeague final pic.twitter.com/ZzzAHjLl1s
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) May 5, 2021
- Only one change from the first leg, with Havertz (scorer of two goals over the weekend) starting instead of Pulisic (who scored our only goal in the first leg)
- Pulisic first off the bench, for Werner, halfway through the second half. James, Ziyech, Giroud on late to waste some time and add some fresh legs.
- Second consecutive final for Tuchel and Thiago Silva.
- Chelsea Women and men both in the Champions League final.
- The final will be on May 29, in Istanbul, against Manchester City. Womens’ final is May 15.
- Next up: also Manchester City, away on Saturday. City wrap up the title if they win.
- KTBFFH