Fiorentina 0-0 Rangers (0-0)

Rangers were delighted with their victory in Italy

Ten-man Rangers edged into the Uefa Cup final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Fiorentina.
The Italians dominated and Sasa Papac cleared Mario Alberto Santana's clever backheel off the goalline.
Adrian Mutu and Christian Vieri also went close, while Steven Whittaker forced a good save at the other end.
Daniel Cousin was sent off in extra time, but the tie ended goalless and Nacho Novo fired the winning penalty after Vieri drove his kick over.
And that took Rangers to their first European final since they lifted the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1972.
The scene had been set for Rangers to follow Dick Advocaat to the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 May, the former Ibrox boss having earlier led Zenit St Petersburg to their first European final with a 5-1 aggregate hammering of Bayern Munich. Signs were good for Walter Smith's side at the Stadio Artemio Franchi when veteran Scotland defender David Weir took to the field having recovered from injury.
Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson also returned from the suspensions that ruled them out of the first leg to bolster Rangers' midfield.
The Glasgow outfit made a more assured start than they had at Ibrox and it took Fiorentina 19 minutes to threaten.
But the pressure started to build and, when goalkeeper Neil Alexander failed to collect a dangerous Massimo Gobbi cross, Papac was forced into a hasty headed clearance. Marco Donadel's return from suspension was cut short as he hobbled off, to be replaced with Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Minutes later, his Fiorentina team-mates joined him in the changing room having failed to breach the Rangers defence.
Fiorentina continued to press after the break, Giampaolo Pazzini firing just wide and Tomas Ujfalusi flashing a drive narrowly over.
Rangers forced Sebastien Frey into his first save on 76 minutes, though Steven Davis' prodded effort from 14 yards was easily held by the goalkeeper.
Vieri almost became an instant hero with his first touch after coming on as a substitute but sat on the ball instead of turning it into the net from just three yards out.

Rangers' Cousin lost the plot by aiming a butt at Liverani

Frey pushed away a fine curling effort from Whittaker at full stretch as Rangers threatened on the break, but the Italians held the greater threat as the game went into extra time.
Vieri missed the target with three attempts, while a Zdravko Kuzmanovic header flew narrowly wide.
Carlos Cuellar sent a powerful header straight at Frey and a Cousin drive looped over the bar.
But Rangers were reduced to 10-men when substitute Cousin, already booked, head-butted Fabio Liverani and received a second yellow card.
Rangers played out the final 10 minutes to take the game to penalties.
And, although Rangers captain Barry Ferguson had his spot-kick saved, Alexander denied Liverani before the veteran Vieri became the villain of a thrilling semi-final.

Chelsea's dignity and bravery

Frank Lampard and Avram Grant added bravery and dignity to the potent cocktail of a passionate Champions League drama served up at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard pays tribute to his mother after scoring Chelsea's second

The bare facts state that Chelsea advanced to a final date with Manchester United in Moscow on 21 May with a 3-2 win over Liverpool after extra-time.
Chelsea deserved their win, a measure of revenge at last for two previous defeats against Liverpool at the same stage.
But for Lampard and Grant, victory brought so much more on both a personal and professional level.
Lampard chose this high-profile, pressurised encounter to make his comeback following the death of his mother, and responded with a performance that underscored his character and maturity, providing Chelsea with a platform and headline-writers with their story.
When Michael Ballack tumbled under Sami Hyypia's challenge eight minutes into extra-time, there was almost a hush around Stamford Bridge when it became clear the German had passed penalty duties back to Lampard, despite his success against Manchester United.
Chelsea's supposedly iron-hard coach Henk Ten Cate could barely look as Lampard started his run-up before burying an unerringly powerful penalty past Pepe Reina.
Only Lampard will know and understand the range of emotions that went through his mind during those few seconds, but his professionalism conquered all of them for a vital strike.
He seemed on the verge of tears before acknowledging his father, Frank senior, in the stands.
It was a defining moment for Lampard and Chelsea, a moment when superiority was wrestled back from an improving Liverpool. DidierDrogba added the third to put Chelsea in the final, despite an anxious last three minutes when Petr Cech fumbled in Ryan Babel's speculative effort.
And then it was time for Chelsea boss Grant to revel in the moment many critics thought was beyond him.

Grant has guided Chelsea to their first Champions League final

This low-key figure took off his jacket and dropped to his knees in joy, head in hands, as realisation dawned that he can now take his place in history as the first manager to guide Chelsea to a Champions League final.
The man who has suffered so many cruel comparisons - on and off the pitch - with his flamboyant and outspoken predecessor Jose Mourinho, had achieved something even beyond the Special One.
He had conquered Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final.
Grant was even applauded by Chelsea fans who, while not exactly warming to him, must surely respect him more with every passing week.
The Israeli then revealed his own very personal emotions that had provided the backdrop to the greatest moment of his professional career.
He said: "Today was Holocaust day in my country, and I will be making a visit to Auschwitz tomorrow. This was a special day for me.Hard but very special.My father, who survived the Holocaust, buried my grandfather with his own hands, so this day always has an extra significance.
"My father was the most optimistic and strong person I have ever known, so to reach the Champions League final today of all days was unbelievable."
It was a moving and dignified tribute that emphasised the inner strength of a man who has received scant praise, but could yet provide Chelsea with their most glorious moment.
Grant was rightly criticised after his tactical inertia in the Carling Cup defeat against Spurs, but he has grown into the job since then and it is time he is given the credit he is due.
Amid wild rumours of player unrest and claims of a lack of boardroom support, Grant has simply got on with the job and statistics state few could have done better.
The coach who supposedly could not win the crucial games has seen off Arsenal, Manchester United and now Liverpool in the biggest matches Chelsea have faced.
He may still have his doubters, but he is starting to put big results on the table and if Grant wins the Champions League against Manchester United, all criticism will be rendered absurd.
It would also surely end all talk that he should be replaced at Chelsea. The players are certainly playing for him, which is the starting point for success.
Chelsea have an inner belief and dogged resilience that simply has to be admired, even by their critics. The win against Liverpool said everything about them.
It said just as much about Lampard and Grant and both men deserve the praise that will come their way after an outstanding victory.

Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (4-3)

Drogba celebrates his fine opener in front of the Liverpool bench

Didier Drogba bagged a brace as Chelsea swept into their first Champions League final at the expense of Liverpool on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge.
The Ivorian opened the scoring with a 12-yard strike, but Fernando Torres's drive sent the game into extra-time.
Frank Lampard restored the lead from the spot after Michael Ballack had been felled, before Drogba prodded a third.
Ryan Babel's 35-yarder prompted a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to seal a tie with Manchester United in Moscow.
It was sweet revenge for Chelsea, having been knocked out of the competition at this stage three times in the last four years, including twice by Liverpool in 2005 and 2007.
And it was just about deserved on a tumultuous night's football, their reward being a titanic encounter against their rivals for the Premier League title.
Both sides made two changes to the teams that started the first leg at Anfield, Michael Essien returning from a European ban and Saloman Kalou preferred to Florent Malouda for Chelsea, Liverpool replacing Babel and the injured Fabio Aurelia with Yossi Benayoun and John Arne Riise. But, as was the case last week, it was the home side that made the early running and Drogba forced the first save of the night with a skiddy effort from 25 yards.
Liverpool's plan was apparently to soak up pressure and then look for Torres at every opportunity. The plan almost reaped rewards on 10 minutes when the Spaniard ran onto Steven Gerrard's fine pass, only for Petr Cech to smother his shot from eight yards.
It was as close as the visitors got in the first half, though, as Chelsea dictated both possession and chances.
Drogba - so impressive in the Blues' weekend win over Manchester United - was at the heart of all that was good about the hosts' play, but he should have done better when he clipped wide having been set clean through in the box by Lampard's incisive pass.
Liverpool's cause was not helped by an injury to Martin Skrtel, the defender limping off with a knee injury, and things got worse for the Reds when Chelsea scored on 33 minutes.
Fittingly, Drogba grabbed the goal, the Ivorian drilling in with aplomb after Kalou, who had been set free by Lampard, had brought a diving stop from Reina.
Replays suggested Kalou had run onto Lampard's through-ball from an offside position but Drogba, so heavily criticised by Rafael Benitez before the game for diving, showed no remorse as he grasped the opportunity to celebrate in front of the Liverpool bench.
Ballack almost rounded off the half with a superb free-kick that flew inches wide and the visitors appeared understandably relieved to go into half-time with the score just 1-0.Something had to change for the Reds - and it did - Liverpool almost making a dream start to the second half when Dirk Kuyt forced a smart save from Cech eight yards out. Gerrard, superbly marshalled by Claude Makelele, had been anonymous in the opening 45 but, with Chelsea happy to sit deep, the midfielder helped Liverpool back into the match.
The Blues suddenly looked short of rhythm and their lack of sharpness was exposed when Benayoun strolled infield and slipped in Torres, the Spaniard spinning on a sixpence and lashing into the corner.

Torres levelled in normal time but Chelsea held on to seal a final spot

It was Liverpool's first goal at Stamford Bridge in 841 minutes of football, spanning nine matches, and meant the match was destined for extra-time. The extra period fizzled with controversy - sparked when an Essien drive from 22 yards out flew into the net, only to be ruled out because four Chelsea players stood offside. The Blues' protests that they were not interfering were muted seconds later, though, as Sami Hyypia felled Ballack and Lampard dispatched the resultant penalty brilliantly.
The midfielder, whose mother passed away last week, celebrated in emotional fashion and seven minutes later Chelsea went two goals clear when Drogba swept home Anelka's pass from six yards. The touch paper had well and truly been lit and, after Hyypia had penalty appeals waved away following a Drogba challenge, Babel reduced the arrears with a speculative effort from 35 yards that Cech should have done better with. It was a frantic end to an astonishing match, but Chelsea saw it out to send the home fans into raptures and put themselves in with a chance of becoming the first London club to lift Europe's most sought-after prize.

Eriksson to be sacked by Man City

Manchester City's form has faltered badly since Christmas

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.
Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.
The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.
Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.
The Thai billionaire was at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday to watch his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Fulham.
Afterwards, he held a meeting with Eriksson and told him he would be dismissed after their final two games of the season.
"Sven reacted calmly, as usual, but he was very surprised and disappointed," the source told BBC Sport.
"He doesn't want to leave the club and will not resign. He loves working with the players and his work at Manchester City has only just begun."
City confirmed that Eriksson would be in charge for the final two games of the season, away at Liverpool and Middlesbrough, but made no comment about what would happen in the summer.
Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he expected them to leave City at the end of the season. "We will be here for the two last matches. They probably think that we haven't done a good enough job", said Grip.
"Sven will receive new offers soon I'm sure."
Eriksson took over as City manager five weeks before the start of the season and the team occupied third spot in the Premiership in November.
However, their form has faltered badly since Christmas and they now lie ninth, having won just four of their last 15 games.
The team has not been playing as well as it should have or getting the right results since Christmas," said the source.
"But overall it has been a good season. Thaksin agreed a five-year plan with Sven in the summer and the target for the first year was to finish in the top 10." Shinawatra bankrolled eight summer signings at a cost of more than £46m shortly after buying the club, but BBC Sport understands he has had no direct contact with Eriksson in the second half of the season.
"They met several times personally at the start of the season and then nothing," said the source.
"Sven has had a list of players he wants to sign next summer for several weeks, but he hasn't been able to get the go-ahead to get them.
"He talks to (City chief executive) Alistair Macintosh, but things break down when he then goes to the chairman."
The City players are understood to have reacted with a mixture of shock and anger when Eriksson told them he would be leaving.
Last week, City defender Micah Richards said in his BBC Sport website column that the players were "100% behind" Eriksson.
"I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City," said Richards.
Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.
It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.
Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.
Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".

Chelsea have the edge - Gerrard

Gerrard admits Liverpool face an uphill task

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has admitted Chelsea are favourites in their Champions League semi-final.
The sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the return leg following last week's 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Gerrard said: "I'll be realistic and say the advantage lies with Chelsea. They're a very good team and have been very strong at home for a long time.
"But we have shown over the last few years that we are a very good team away from home in Europe."
Liverpool have failed to score away to Chelsea in eight games under manager Rafael Benitez.
But Gerrard added: "We really feel that we are as good as Chelsea, if not better than them. We have certainly been the better team when we've played them this season." John Arne Riise's own goal in the dying stages of the first leg saw the game swing dramatically in Chelsea's favour.
Avram Grant's side, who have not lost at home in 66 league and cup matches, know a home victory will be enough to put them through to the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history.
But Reds boss Benitez feels that Chelsea's previous exits at the semi-final stage may go against them.
They have lost to Liverpool at the final four stage in two of the last three seasons and Benitez said: "I think they want to win clearly and all their supporters will push and try to support the team. The players know it's an important game for them - three years to the final, they will be a little bit under pressure."
Benitez has also has questioned the referee, who will be Italian Roberto Rosetti for his "curious" record.
"This referee has had six games in Europe this season, five times the home team has won and the other was when Chelsea won in Valencia," said the Spaniard. "Maybe that is curious.
"The referee has experience, he is certainly not a bad referee. If he is strong at Stamford Bridge then things will be okay.
"The referee in the first leg was not good in virtually every decision but hopefully it will be different now." "Drogba goes down too easily."said the Spaniard

Chelsea v Liverpool (1-1)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to return for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, second leg.
The England star, who played in the 1-1 draw at Anfield, missed Saturday's win over Manchester United following the death of his mother Pat from pneumonia.
Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise, who scored an injury-time own goal as a substitute in the first leg, could replace the injured Fabio Aurelio.
The Brazilian defender has been ruled out because of a groin problem.
Alternatively, manager Rafa Benitez could recall Sami Hyypia to centre-back, move Jamie Carragher to the right and switch Alvaro Arbeloa to the left, while Steve Finnan can play in either full-back spot.
Benitez is also set to start with striker Fernando Torres after the Spaniard was rested for Saturday's draw with Birmingham.
Peter Crouch could come in up front in preference to Ryan Babel. Grant, meanwhile, says Lampard is giving himself every chance of playing in the match: "He is doing everything to be available.
"We always take decisions after the last training session."
And he insists the fact that captain John Terry is a booking away from missing the final in Moscow, should Chelsea get there, won't affect his performance.
"You know him like I know him. He'll play to win, like he always does. He won't play any differently," he said.

Man Utd 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-0)

A spectacular strike by Paul Scholes sent Manchester United into their first Champions League final for nine years on a night of Old Trafford tension.

Paul Scholes celebrates the goal that sent Man Utd into the final

Scholes rifled in a spectacular 25-yard effort after 14 minutes to beat Barcelona and set up an all-English clash with Chelsea or Liverpool.
Barcelona dominated possession for long periods, with Deco twice close and Thierry Henry wasting a late chance.
But United mounted a rearguard action to seal a date in Moscow on 21 May.
There was added poignancy and significance in the victory, coming 50 years after the Munich air crash.
And for Scholes, suspended for the 1999 final victory against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, it is a chance to make up for that bitter disappointment. United were dealt a double blow before kick-off when Wayne Rooney's hip injury ruled him out and Nemanja Vidic was sidelined by the concussion he sustained at Chelsea.
And United almost made a nightmare start when Scholes tripped Lionel Messi as he raced into the area - there was only inches in it and fortunately for the home side German referee Herbert Fandel got the big call right and gave a free-kick.
It took United time to settle, but Scholes eased their nerves with a thunderous strike to give them the lead in the 14th minute.
Gianluca Zambrotta's wayward clearance landed at Scholes' feet, and he delivered a trademark rising drive from 25 yards that flew high into the net beyond the outstretched hands of Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.
It was only the second goal Scholes has scored this season - but it was a fitting strike to send United to the final.
Messi was the real danger man for Barcelona, and he ended a slalom run with a left-foot shot that was turned away by United keeper Edwin van der Sar. United had chances of their own, with Ji-Sung Park side-footing just wide, but Barcelona regained their composure to enjoy a period of superiority, with Deco twice narrowly off target.
Nani, preferred to Ryan Giggs, wasted a chance to grab the priceless second goal three minutes before the interval when he glanced Park's cross wide from eight yards.
Barcelona began the second half with a spell of possession, but it was United who carved out a clear opportunity as Valdes blocked Tevez's close-range drive after 56 minutes.
The Catalans made a change on the hour, sending on former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for Andres Iniesta. Barcelona, inspired by the brilliant Messi, had United penned back, but they were resisted by defensive discipline and resilience of the highest class from a side normally noted for their attacking verve.
United attempted to stem the tide with 13 minutes left by making a double change, with Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher replacing Nani and Scholes.
Henry almost returned to haunt United with a point-blank header from Xavi's corner which was gratefully clutched by Van der Sar.
Barcelona weaved pretty patterns in the closing stages, but United's defence - superbly marshalled by Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown - stood firm to spark wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle.