Chelsea, Real land in semifinals

Chelsea substitute Demba Ba struck a dramatic late goal to seal a 2-0 home win over Paris St Germain and a place in the Champions League semifinals on away goals on Tuesday after a night of almost unbearable tension.

PSG were heading for a first appearance in the last four since 1995 when Ba bundled in a loose ball after 87 minutes to clinch the tie, which ended 3-3 on aggregate.

Chelsea were joined in the semifinals by Real Madrid after they just about squeaked past Borussia Dortmund. Cristiano Ronaldo watched helplesly from the bench as Madrid scraped by edging past them 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-0 defeat.

Two first half goals by Marco Reus (24th, 37th), both coming from Real mistakes, gave Dortmund a deserved lead as the Spaniards, who had a penalty saved in the 17th minute, were left mesmerised by the Germans' frantic pace on a rainy evening in the Ruhr valley. But the German side failed to find the decisive third goal which would have sent the match to extra-time.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea went ahead in a tense end-to-end battle with a superbly-taken goal from substitute Andre Schurrle after 32 minutes and they also hit the bar twice in two minutes early in the second half.

PSG, who won the first leg 3-1, dominated early on and Edinson Cavani missed two good chances in the closing stages which had the supporters on the edge of their seats.

Chelsea, despite losing playmaker Eden Hazard to injury after 17 minutes when Schurrle came on, finished strongly and Senegal striker Ba's late finish made them were worthy winners on another memorable European night in west London. "It all happened so quick," Ba said. "I saw the ball and it was in the goal. I just do what I have to do when I get chances. I didn't have chances this season but tonight I took it."

He continued: "Maybe he (Mourinho) doesn't have the strikers he likes but I know that we have three great strikers and I think a lot of clubs would like to have them.
"I'm happy to have liberated us. I haven't been given much of chance this season, but I've taken this one."

Ba, the only Parisien on the pitch and a boyhood PSG fan, added: "It's the first time I've ever wanted PSG to lose, and it's me who scores the goal, luckily for Chelsea."
Madrid limp through

After Madrid had taken a 3-0 lead to Germany, many thought the tie was a foregone conclusion but Dortmund had other ideas. The Germans got off to a fiery start, looking for an early goal that could set them on their way.

Real, however, squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead and put the tie all but beyond the hosts when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by defender Lukasz Piszczek and Angel Di Maria had it saved by Roman Weidenfeller.

A minute later it was Dortmund's turn to miss with Mkhitaryan firing wide from close range but Reus made amends, pouncing on a defensive mistake by Pepe to slot in for the lead. Mats Hummels almost added another as the hosts piled on the pressure but his well-timed header was palmed over the bar by Casillas.

Germany international Reus crashed in his second goal after he charged forward following another Real mistake, this time from Asier Illarramendi, fed striker Robert Lewandowski, who hit the post, and was left unmarked to drill in at the far post.

"You could make a video of this game and show it to the teams that lose a first leg 3-0," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

"My players wanted to go through but we were missing that one goal we did not score in Madrid (last week).”

Dortmund also had a great chance to level the aggregate score but Henrikh Mkhitaryan's shot hit the post in the 65th.

"That was too much suffering and I think it was deserved," said Real keeper Iker Casillas. "But from time to time it's good to have this kind of wake up call that reminds us it's not always easy, and especially not in the Champions League.”