Didier Drogba may never play another game for Chelsea. Then again, after his performance Saturday in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, the 34-year-old striker from Ivory Coast has carved a place in club history that will not soon be forgotten.
After Bayern Munich, playing in its home stadium for the championship game, took a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes to go in normal time, Drogba turned a corner kick by Mata from an extreme angle into the tying goal. Then only minutes into the first 15-minute extra period, Drogba was the culprit when he took down Bayern’s Frank Ribery in the penalty area. As the Frenchman limped off the field, Bayern’s Arjen Robben, a former Chelsea player, took a penalty kick that was stopped by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Through extra time and into the penalty kick shootout the teams went.
In the shootout, Bayern Munich broke on top, 3-1, only to see its lead evaporate. Then, with the score tied, 3-3, and each team ready for their final kick, Bayern’s Bastien Schweinsteiger powered his shot off the near post.
Up stepped Drogba who calmly beat Manuel Neuer giving Chelsea, and its interim coach Roberto Di Matteo, the Champions League title in the most improbably manner possible. The victory for Chelsea came after the team lost to its English rival in the 2008 final in Moscow, also in the shootout. In that game Drogba could only watch from the lockerroom after having been ejected from the match.
This time, it was Drogba, who may have well played in his final game in Chelsea’s blue jersey, waving his shirt in front of Bayern’s home crowd as Chelsea ran away with its first European title.
Didier Drogba may never play another game for Chelsea. Then again, after his performance Saturday in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, the 34-year-old striker from Ivory Coast has carved a place in club history that will not soon be forgotten.
After Bayern Munich, playing in its home stadium for the championship game, took a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes to go in normal time, Drogba turned a corner kick by Mata from an extreme angle into the tying goal. Then only minutes into the first 15-minute extra period, Drogba was the culprit when he took down Bayern’s Frank Ribery in the penalty area. As the Frenchman limped off the field, Bayern’s Arjen Robben, a former Chelsea player, took a penalty kick that was stopped by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Through extra time and into the penalty kick shootout the teams went.
In the shootout, Bayern Munich broke on top, 3-1, only to see its lead evaporate. Then, with the score tied, 3-3, and each team ready for their final kick, Bayern’s Bastien Schweinsteiger powered his shot off the near post.
Up stepped Drogba who calmly beat Manuel Neuer giving Chelsea, and its interim coach Roberto Di Matteo, the Champions League title in the most improbably manner possible. The victory for Chelsea came after the team lost to its English rival in the 2008 final in Moscow, also in the shootout. In that game Drogba could only watch from the lockerroom after having been ejected from the match.
This time, it was Drogba, who may have well played in his final game in Chelsea’s blue jersey, waving his shirt in front of Bayern’s home crowd as Chelsea ran away with its first European title.