Bayer Leverkusen | 2 - 1 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Eren Derdiyok (73') |  | Didier Drogba (48') |
| Manuel Friedrich (90') | | |
| Date | : | Wed, Nov 23, 2011 | Time | : | 20:45 CET |
| Play on | : | UEFA Champions League |
Bayer Leverkusen vs Chelsea Highlights
Chelsea crashed with another last-gasp defeat tonight to put in real danger of not reaching the Champions League knockout stages and pile pressure on André Villas-Boas.
For the third time in his travels in Group E, the Blues took the lead, Didier Drogba scoring only his second goal of the season, shortly after the break. But, as against Valencia and Genk, the visitors threw the victory, substitute Eren Derdiyok call before Manuel Friedrich completed the comeback in injury time.
To make matters worse, Valencia won 7-0 at Genk to end on goal difference from Chelsea, and leave men Villas-Boas need to gain or keep a clean sheet in the next month to reach the final group the last 16 years.
Chelsea reached the BayArena beset on and off the field problems and there was more bad news for the visitors when it was revealed Ashley Cole, who had started all of their Barclays Premier League and European games this season, had been beaten by a ankle injuries.
Jose Bosingwa was recalled as an emergency left-back, while Raul Meireles and Daniel Sturridge joined the team beaten by Liverpool on Sunday - but still no place for Fernando Torres.
David Luiz stood at the center of the half despite Gary Neville comparing their defense to a player 10 years old PlayStation.
A boisterous crowd home almost had something to celebrate after 32 minutes.
Blues favorite of Michael Ballack rose highest to head back Gonzalo Castro acorss goal and corner against the crossbar, with Ramires on hand to clean.
Moans became minutes later when Stefan Kiessling whistles was booked for dissent and Drogba have silenced the home fans in full six minutes before the break.
Daniel Sturridge, who rose above the general mediocrity, played an inch perfect through ball and Drogba rounded Bernd Leno before slamming violently into the side netting from a tight angle.
Michal Kadlec was reprimanded for handball and Juan Mata sent a weak volley straight to Leno, after more Sturridge backlog.
Leverkusen was losing its discipline and Ballack became the third home unnecessarily booked before the break.
Chelsea picked up where they left off and face within three minutes of the restart.
Sturridge floated another ball great for Drogba, who kept Friedrich bright streak before turning and stirring the left foot on the bottom only his second goal of the season.
And the striker almost twice put in a second when his movie-in went directly to Leno by Frank Lampard and his pass set up by an explosion Branislav Ivanovic also close to the goalkeeper.
Ivanovic was then carded for a late entry into Sidney Sam sent Leverkusen before Daniel Schwaab Schürrle Andre.
Chelsea had thrown an advantage, both in the previous Champions League away games and went about doing it again twice in a minute, Petr Cech only to win the battle of the masked men.
The first frigate top goalie in the bar before Ballack to produce a brilliant reaction save to repel his former teammate at close range volley.
Kiessling have been Cech no chance with a header from close range shortly after that somehow sent directly to the Czech Republic, as the uncertainty of Chelsea defender, all began to resurface.
Sturridge almost settled the nerves with a superb 60 yards and a finish that close on Leno before Mata was withdrawn by Florent Malouda and Luiz soon followed by Alex.
Malouda almost killed the game when he entered the area, but was thwarted by savings in expansion.
That came seconds after he made his second change Leverkusen when replaced Derdiyok Kadlec - and was the striker who has changed 17 minutes of time.
The ball found its way to Sam on the left and his cross drift over Cech and the entire Chelsea defense, allowing Derdiyok nodding at the empty net.
Drogba was convinced he should have had a penalty when Lars Bender noise in back of him, and he also sent a volley wide.
But with the final whistle looming, Leverkusen snatched victory, Friedrich jumping to perfection at the corner of Castro in power over the crossbar.
Leverkusen vs Chelsea Last 5 match
| Leverkusen | Chelsea |
| Nov 18, 2011, 1. FCK 0 - 2 Leverkusen | Nov 20, 2011, Chelsea 1 - 2 Liverpool |
| Nov 5, 2011, Leverkusen 2 - 2 Hamburg | Nov 5, 2011, Blackburn 0 - 1 Chelsea |
| Nov 1, 2011, Valencia 3 - 1 Leverkusen | Nov 1, 2011, KRC Genk 1 - 1 Chelsea |
| Oct 28, 2011, SC Freiburg 0 - 1 Leverkusen | Oct 29, 2011, Chelsea 3 - 5 Arsenal |
| Oct 23, 2011, Leverkusen 0 - 1 Schalke 04 | Oct 26, 2011, Everton 1 - 2 Chelsea |
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