Arda Turan netted Atletico's winner as they knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League[STUART ROBINSON]Jose Mourinho’s team were out-thought, outfought and simply outshot by Diego Simeone’s razor-sharp La Liga leaders.
Fernando Torres did not celebrate when he gave Chelsea a first-half lead against his old club. In the end he had nothing to smile about.
Adrian Lopez levelled as Chelsea were caught out at the back. Diego Costa gave Atletico the lead with a penalty and Arda Turan wrapped things up to set up an all-Madrid final against bitter rivals Real. The Special One had been outwitted.
Mourinho sprang a surprise once again with his selection as Cesar Azpilicueta was drafted into midfield to provide more strength on the right, with Frank Lampard banned.
As expected, back into the side came skipper John Terry, initially ruled out after the first leg, having shrugged off his foot problem. Up front, 17-goal Eden Hazard returned after three weeks out.
The goalless draw in Madrid a week ago was achieved with a grim backs-to-the-wall defensive performance, as was the win at Liverpool on Sunday, but last night offered the opportunity to attack. Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he had no problem with Mourinho’s approach. His team went into last night’s semi-final unbeaten in the competition this season in 11 matches, and two wins away from their first La Liga title since 1996.
And in Diego Costa they had a 35-goal striker, shackled in the first leg, who was surely not going to fail again against the club who believe he will be theirs next season.
Samuel Eto'o gave away a penalty after a clumsy foul on Diego Costa [STUART ROBINSON]It was Atletico who almost drew first blood in a frenzied atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, as Koke’s inswinging cross from the right deceived stand-in keeper Mark Schwarzer but bounced back off the bar and post. It was a major escape.
Chelsea settled as Willian stroked a free-kick just over the bar but Atletico were, as ever, venomous on the break. First Ashley Cole dived in to block from Costa as the striker shaped to shoot, and then Gary Cahill provided the saving tackle.
David Luiz was then only an inch away with an improvised overhead kick. Torres, with several mazy, determined runs, looked up for it against his first club.
And he showed it nine minutes before half-time. Ivanovic’s ball freed Willian, who held off two defenders before finding Azpilicueta. His cross was low and accurate, and Torres buried his shot via a deflection off Mario Suarez.
Adrian then saw his flicked header saved but Atletico were not behind for long. Tiago’s long ball caught out Eden Hazard at the back post as Juanfran sneaked in to pull the ball back. Cole and Terry both missed it, and Lopez did not fail a second time, bobbling his shot into the net.
Atletico smelled blood. Koke crossed from the right, once again everyone missed it, and when Arda Turan fired in his shot at the far post, Schwarzer saved brilliantly. Then the Australian got down to save Tiago’s low shot.
The tie was balanced on a knife-edge. Terry threw himself forward to connect with Willian’s free-kick. He headed the ball down but Thibaut Courtois, a Chelsea player out on loan of course, made a fine save.
Fernando Torres managed to score against his old side [ACTION]Mourinho threw on Samuel Eto’o but his first contribution was disastrous. Costa picked up Turan’s cross from the right but he was heading away from goal when Eto’o made a foolish lunge and brought him down.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli gave the penalty and then booked Costa for taking an age to take it. It did not faze Costa, who stepped up to ram his side ahead for the first time in the tie.
On came Demba Ba for Torres, who had worked his heart out, as Mourinho played the last of his cards. It was Ba who had scored the late, late winner against Paris Saint- Germain in the quarter-finals when the Chelsea manager had thrown all three strikers on in a desperate but successful ploy. It did not work this time.
Some had said Atletico, with their high tempo pressing game, would fade. They were wrong. Once again Chelsea were caught out down their left flank. This time the lurking Juanfran headed across goal.
Turan’s first, powerful, header was well saved by Schwarzer, but he could only paw the ball on to the bar and Turan stabbed the rebound home.
Simeone set off on a run of celebration – Mourinho-like – down the touchline.
As the minutes ticked away, Hazard, who was quiet on his return from injury, sped into the area but with only the keeper to beat his shot was well blocked by Courtois.
Hazard forced another save from his Belgium team-mate and there was still time for Schwarzer to save well from Filipe Luis but Atletico’s work was done.
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