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Played
November 23, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
BayArena — Leverkusen
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 29285
November 23, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
BayArena — Leverkusen
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 29285
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| Leverkusen | 3.20 | 11.00 | 3.25 | 15.00 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 8.50 | 3.50 | 3.10 |
| Draw | 3.25 | 1.08 | 3.25 | 1.08 | 3.25 | 3.20 | 1.20 | 3.30 | 3.25 |
| Chelsea | 2.30 | 9.00 | 2.20 | 13.00 | 2.25 | 2.30 | 7.50 | 2.28 | 2.25 |
Top of the Match
Manuel Friedrich
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Michael Ballack
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Flop of the Match
Petr Cech
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
André Villas-Boas
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea: Late Friedrich goal sees hosts come from behind to qualify
The hosts scored in the 91st minute to add more pressure to the already under-fire Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas, whose job will be on the line as Group E goes to the wire
By Steve Hewlett
Christof Koepsel
A late goal from Manuel Freidrich sealed a dramatic win for Bayer Leverkusen as Chelsea let a second-half lead slip from their fingers in Champions League Group E.
Goals after the break from Didier Drogba and Eren Derdiyok had the tie looking like a draw until the late drama swung the game in the host's favour.
Ashley Cole's omission was the biggest news before the game as the England international made way for Jose Bosingwa.
Neither side could take the game by the scruff of the neck in the first half as both teams enjoyed spells with the ball, but there was no sustained substance to either side's play.
Chelsea’s notable attempts were both from free kicks, with Frank Lampard hitting the first miles over the bar and the second seeing Didier Drogba, who up until this point had done virtually nothing, loft the ball up and over the wall but directly into the grasp of Bernd Leno in the Leverkusen net.
Michael Ballack, who was making his 100th appearance in the Champions League, came close to opening the scoring on 33 minutes when, from a corner on the right, the former Chelsea man rose highest to loop a header over Petr Cech, only for the crossbar to deny him a goal against his former employers. It was a deft header which could have broken the drudgery of an impotent and, at times, timid first half.
If the Leverkusen fans were cursing their luck at the Ballack miss, they were soon incensed by the actions of referee Kassai as a series of decisions went against them. Stefan Keissling received a yellow after protesting his innocence following a fair challenge with Bosingwa.
The mood soured further when an accidental handball by Michal Kadlec drew another booking, and the third came when Ballack argued his point too much in questioning another decision of the officials.
By far the clearest chance of the opening goal came when a smart through ball from Daniel Sturridge split open the defence of the hosts and let Drogba run free. The striker rounded Leno and looked certain to score but an off balance shot floated over the bar and the Ivorian was
shocked that he missed from such a range.
With half time to think about his miss before the break, Drogba hit the ground running in the second period as he grabbed the first goal of a frustrating game. More good work by Sturridge on the right presented the ball to Drogba who managed to work the ball away from Manuel Freidrich and Omer Toprak and allowed himself the space to swivel and scoop the ball beyond Leno and into the net.
Ballack continued to be the thorn is Chelsea’s side as the veteran tested Cech further as Leverkusen were searching for a way back into the game. An overhead kick was his first attempt which required Cech to flip the ball over the bar to safety with another sprawling save moments later, denying the German once again.
The pressure from Leverkusen was sustained as a Keissling header from a Castro cross was directed straight at Cech. If he header had been a couple of yards either side of the keeper, the game would be level.
With time slipping away, Robin Dutt rolled the dice and changed his formation to reflect the predicament his side were now in. Full-back Kadlec was brought off for forward Eren Derdiyok as the home side decided to go for broke.
The pay-off from this gamble was almost immediate as a probing cross deep from Castro flummoxed the Chelsea defence and allowed Sidney Sam to sneak in behind them to cross back across the goal for Derdiyok to nod the ball home and lift the Bay Arena. The game certainly warranted to be level, and with parity restored both sides, chances of progression into the group stages were still alive.
As the game was ebbing to a draw a late sting in the tail was in store as more good work from Castro earned the home side a corner on the right. As the ball was delivered, Freidrich rose high to nod the ball home and send the Bay Arena in rapture with the dramatic late winner.
It was the cruellest of blows to Chelsea who looked to have done enough to ensure progression, but as has been the theme of late, things turned bad and Villas-Boas was left with another defeat to explain.
All is not lost for Chelsea, however, as a win against Valencia will see them through, whilst Leverkusen can relax in the knowledge that their path is assured.
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Goals after the break from Didier Drogba and Eren Derdiyok had the tie looking like a draw until the late drama swung the game in the host's favour.
Ashley Cole's omission was the biggest news before the game as the England international made way for Jose Bosingwa.
Neither side could take the game by the scruff of the neck in the first half as both teams enjoyed spells with the ball, but there was no sustained substance to either side's play.
Chelsea’s notable attempts were both from free kicks, with Frank Lampard hitting the first miles over the bar and the second seeing Didier Drogba, who up until this point had done virtually nothing, loft the ball up and over the wall but directly into the grasp of Bernd Leno in the Leverkusen net.
Michael Ballack, who was making his 100th appearance in the Champions League, came close to opening the scoring on 33 minutes when, from a corner on the right, the former Chelsea man rose highest to loop a header over Petr Cech, only for the crossbar to deny him a goal against his former employers. It was a deft header which could have broken the drudgery of an impotent and, at times, timid first half.
If the Leverkusen fans were cursing their luck at the Ballack miss, they were soon incensed by the actions of referee Kassai as a series of decisions went against them. Stefan Keissling received a yellow after protesting his innocence following a fair challenge with Bosingwa.
The mood soured further when an accidental handball by Michal Kadlec drew another booking, and the third came when Ballack argued his point too much in questioning another decision of the officials.
By far the clearest chance of the opening goal came when a smart through ball from Daniel Sturridge split open the defence of the hosts and let Drogba run free. The striker rounded Leno and looked certain to score but an off balance shot floated over the bar and the Ivorian was
shocked that he missed from such a range.
With half time to think about his miss before the break, Drogba hit the ground running in the second period as he grabbed the first goal of a frustrating game. More good work by Sturridge on the right presented the ball to Drogba who managed to work the ball away from Manuel Freidrich and Omer Toprak and allowed himself the space to swivel and scoop the ball beyond Leno and into the net.
Ballack continued to be the thorn is Chelsea’s side as the veteran tested Cech further as Leverkusen were searching for a way back into the game. An overhead kick was his first attempt which required Cech to flip the ball over the bar to safety with another sprawling save moments later, denying the German once again.
The pressure from Leverkusen was sustained as a Keissling header from a Castro cross was directed straight at Cech. If he header had been a couple of yards either side of the keeper, the game would be level.
With time slipping away, Robin Dutt rolled the dice and changed his formation to reflect the predicament his side were now in. Full-back Kadlec was brought off for forward Eren Derdiyok as the home side decided to go for broke.
The pay-off from this gamble was almost immediate as a probing cross deep from Castro flummoxed the Chelsea defence and allowed Sidney Sam to sneak in behind them to cross back across the goal for Derdiyok to nod the ball home and lift the Bay Arena. The game certainly warranted to be level, and with parity restored both sides, chances of progression into the group stages were still alive.
As the game was ebbing to a draw a late sting in the tail was in store as more good work from Castro earned the home side a corner on the right. As the ball was delivered, Freidrich rose high to nod the ball home and send the Bay Arena in rapture with the dramatic late winner.
It was the cruellest of blows to Chelsea who looked to have done enough to ensure progression, but as has been the theme of late, things turned bad and Villas-Boas was left with another defeat to explain.
All is not lost for Chelsea, however, as a win against Valencia will see them through, whilst Leverkusen can relax in the knowledge that their path is assured.
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Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking- Fans' Man of the Match
- Fans' Flop of the Match
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
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Mario Gomez
Striker Bayern |
13 | 0 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
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Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
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Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |
