Chelsea wins 2012 Champions League in heartbreaking penalty shootout! You got to love the underdog in any sports matchup especially European football. Chelsea come into this final with injuries and suspensions but still braved their heart out in front of hostile crowd in Allianz-Arena's Bayern Munich home. Chelsea's manager Roberto Di MatteoRoberto Di Matteo had to pull his trick in a surprising pick on Ryan Bertrand to start his Champions League final instead of Torres.
Bayern Munich meanwhile came into this game firing in all cylinders but only Thomas Muller's goal made it at 83 minute to make it 1-0 for the German team. In the first half Bayern's offense fired 11 shot attempts with only 2 from Chelsea. Mario Gomez is not accurate in the first half, Robben and Ribery has their chances but not so lucky.
You must have to give credit to Chelsea's stonewall defense lead by Ashley Cole. Drogba who's been quite in the first half finally made his presence known with Drogba's first-time effort from the right wing only being blocked at 54 minute of play. The second time Drogba finally bring home the bacon with Juan Mata's corner shot finds flying power header by the Didier DrogbaDidier Drogba with just six minutes after Bayern Munich scored.
Check Drogba goal video, go here.
With scored tied 1-1 Robben has a chance to grab the lead in penalty shot but Cech saves it at 95th minute resulting to extra time. Bayern outnumbers shot attempts with 24 to only 6 by Chelsea, same strategy they adopted when they ousted Barcelona in the semi-finals as defense breakdown Bayern's offensive trio.
The 2012 Champions League must be settled on penalty shoot out. Lahm and Gomez delivered for Bayern, Cole had no trouble putting it in to tie 3-3, leaving Schweinsteiger and Drogba to take what were sudden-death kicks. This time Bayern badly miss David Abala who made his kick in shootout easily against Real Madrid in the semi finals.
Read more on Abala story , go here
Schweinsteiger beat Cech, but not the post which is way wide, Drogba step up the plate and bring home the bacon once again for the Englishmen making it 4-3 as the 34-year old fired home to send the Bayern crowd into delirium. Great finish by the warrior and Chelsea is the 2012 Champions League Champ! Roberto Di Matteo on Chelsea to winning the tournament, becomes the 10th Italian manager to win the European Cup or Champions League. Chelsea sub-captain Frank Lampard, told in interview: "I can't believe it. The determination we've shown ... we didn't play fantastic but the main man Didier dug us out of trouble there. It means everything. We've been so many years trying to do this."
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