Chelsea's victory over Barcelona, in the Champions League semi-final, was improbable to say the least.
Not from the outset: any team leading 1-0 on aggregate, going into the second leg of a European tie, would have a great chance of getting a result. No, it was improbable, unthinkable, impossible even, 44 minutes in, when Chelsea - shorn of their only front line centre backs and down to ten men - conceded their second goal.
Game over. Or so we thought.
A thrilling breakaway goal from the indefatigable Ramires - surely the London club's player of the season - fed by a delicious pass from Frank Lampard, made it 2-1 moments later and, suddenly, inexplicably, it was back on. Chelsea were going through on away goals.
Barca had to score again. The second half began, and, almost immediately, Didier Drogba - who would spent most of the half playing at left back - conceded a penalty to a Fabregas dive. Messi stepped up. And we knew what would happen. We knew he would score. We pictured him calmly stroking the ball home. Bottom left hand corner. Chelsea would be demoralised. The flood gates would open. It could be four, five, six...
Then Messi, human after all, hit the bar.
It was the turning point. Doubt crept in to Barcelona's play. Messi, of all people, had missed. They got ragged, they made poor decisions.
Wave after wave of Barcelona attacks, broke on the rocks at the heart of Chelsea's defence. Ivanovic had shifted to centre back when Cahill had tweaked his hamstring, Bosingwa - not noted for his defensive prowess - moved inside when Terry was deservedly sent off. Both performed miracles.
Cech was outstanding too, making a string of crucial saves. The midfield worked tirelessly. They were dogged in defence, all ten men behind the ball, heroes to a man. The tide never turned and yet, somehow, Chelsea survived.
Once again, it was a performance reminiscent of those determined defensive displays by Wigan over the last few weeks, thwarting technically superior sides. The "carousel" was interrupted, Barca's rhythm was disturbed, and the best team in the world began to lose faith.
Then: the knockout blow.
When Drogba was withdrawn for Torres on 80 minutes I felt it was the wrong decision. Drogba was exhausted, yes, but he was extremely effective playing as an auxiliary left back. He was tackling well, using his strength. Surely Torres could not fulfil the same role?
Immediately Barca attacked down the right and Torres let his man go. It seemed Roberto Di Matteo had made a mistake.
But Di Matteo had a plan.
Every time Torres took possession of the ball he attacked, running at pace into the Barcelona half, engaging their skittish defenders. Repeatedly he lost possession, enabling Barcelona to launch yet another assault on the Petr Cech's goal. "Keep the ball," screamed Chelsea fans on Twitter, "Give the defence a break."
But what RDM had noted, that the rest of us had not, was that Barcelona had lost their discipline, perhaps understandably. And when, in the 91st minute, the exhausted Chelsea defence lumped a clearance up field, Torres found himself with the freedom of the Barcelona half. It took the camera man a few moments to catch on, perhaps disbelieving, like so many of the home fans. But there it was. Torres was one on one with Valdes, almost from the halfway line. West London held it's breath.
Torres rounded the keeper to score the "£50 million goal" and Chelsea were through.
Aftermath
John Terry will miss the final; a fitting punishment. There will be no chance at redemption for his penalty miss in Moscow. Only he knows why he chose to knee Alexis Sanchez, off the ball. His initial denials of wrongdoing were laughable and he only admitted the offence once he had seen how damning the video evidence was. Few will be convinced by the red-eyed contrition he displayed in his interview with Sky Sports.
His reputation has been eroded over the years, as a result of various on and off field misdemeanours; both proven and unproven. Throughout all this, many have continued to argue that - whatever you think about him as a man - he is a brilliant captain and leader. That must surely be called into question now, by even the most ardent of his supporters.
The ungracious Spanish media called Barcelona's defeat "Unjust, cruel, horrible, unmerited," and yes it could be argued that the "best team" did not win. But if the "best team" always won, football would be a very boring game. We all want to see teams playing a beautiful, intricate passing game win matches, but hard work, determination and defensive resilience must also be rewarded.
Many have bemoaned Barcelona's lack of a "Plan B." But the truth is they've never really needed one. They have a footballing philosophy and they stick to it. This is total football. Having said that, if they had a more traditional centre forward on their books - taller, more physically imposing - that would enable them to vary their attacks more. Come the summer, Pep Guardiola should be looking at Fernando Llorente.
Sky viewers who had not already meandered away to other channels were treated to another classic Geoff Shreeves moment, as he broke the news to Branislav Ivanovic that he would not play in the final.
And that leads us to the big question looming for Roberto Di Matteo. What will his line up be on May 19th? Terry, Ramires, Ivanovic and Meireles are all suspended. Cahill is now an injury doubt, as is David Luiz. Michael Essien may come into the Italian's thinking for a defensive roll.
Di Matteo must be pinching himself. When he was sacked by West Brom, in February last year, he could never have dreamt that, less than 18 months on, he would be managing a side in the Champions League final.
Every time Torres took possession of the ball he attacked, running at pace into the Barcelona half, engaging their skittish defenders. Repeatedly he lost possession, enabling Barcelona to launch yet another assault on the Petr Cech's goal. "Keep the ball," screamed Chelsea fans on Twitter, "Give the defence a break."
But what RDM had noted, that the rest of us had not, was that Barcelona had lost their discipline, perhaps understandably. And when, in the 91st minute, the exhausted Chelsea defence lumped a clearance up field, Torres found himself with the freedom of the Barcelona half. It took the camera man a few moments to catch on, perhaps disbelieving, like so many of the home fans. But there it was. Torres was one on one with Valdes, almost from the halfway line. West London held it's breath.
Torres rounded the keeper to score the "£50 million goal" and Chelsea were through.
Aftermath
John Terry will miss the final; a fitting punishment. There will be no chance at redemption for his penalty miss in Moscow. Only he knows why he chose to knee Alexis Sanchez, off the ball. His initial denials of wrongdoing were laughable and he only admitted the offence once he had seen how damning the video evidence was. Few will be convinced by the red-eyed contrition he displayed in his interview with Sky Sports.
His reputation has been eroded over the years, as a result of various on and off field misdemeanours; both proven and unproven. Throughout all this, many have continued to argue that - whatever you think about him as a man - he is a brilliant captain and leader. That must surely be called into question now, by even the most ardent of his supporters.
The ungracious Spanish media called Barcelona's defeat "Unjust, cruel, horrible, unmerited," and yes it could be argued that the "best team" did not win. But if the "best team" always won, football would be a very boring game. We all want to see teams playing a beautiful, intricate passing game win matches, but hard work, determination and defensive resilience must also be rewarded.
Many have bemoaned Barcelona's lack of a "Plan B." But the truth is they've never really needed one. They have a footballing philosophy and they stick to it. This is total football. Having said that, if they had a more traditional centre forward on their books - taller, more physically imposing - that would enable them to vary their attacks more. Come the summer, Pep Guardiola should be looking at Fernando Llorente.
Sky viewers who had not already meandered away to other channels were treated to another classic Geoff Shreeves moment, as he broke the news to Branislav Ivanovic that he would not play in the final.
And that leads us to the big question looming for Roberto Di Matteo. What will his line up be on May 19th? Terry, Ramires, Ivanovic and Meireles are all suspended. Cahill is now an injury doubt, as is David Luiz. Michael Essien may come into the Italian's thinking for a defensive roll.
Di Matteo must be pinching himself. When he was sacked by West Brom, in February last year, he could never have dreamt that, less than 18 months on, he would be managing a side in the Champions League final.
Now, if only he could win it, he might - just might - be given the job full time.
Roll on May 19th.
Roll on May 19th.
