Chelsea Clinch Dramatic Europa League Final Win in Amsterdam

Benfica 1 – 2 Chelsea
Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam

Europa League Final, 15^th May 2013

Prior to kick off in Amsterdam for the Europa League final, loyal club servants Frank Lampard and Petr Cech urged Chelsea to ‘make history’, and that’s just what they did after brushing aside Portuguese outfit Benfica.

Goals from Fernando Torres and Branislav Ivanovic deep into added time ensured back-to-back European final wins, following last seasons Champions League victory.

The first club to achieve such a feat, holding both trophies simultaneously, albeit briefly.

The west London club joined an elite group of teams that include Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus, to have captured all major UEFA European trophies.

Triumphant in the Cup Winners Cup in 1971 and 1998, the blues added the Champions League in 2012.

Their Portuguese counterparts started the better, who were appearing in their first major European final in 23 years and had a hatful of first half chances, for the likes of Gaitan, Cardozo and Perez, failing to capitalise on Chelsea’s slow start.

Chelsea’s best chance came from a long range right footed drive from captain for the evening Frank Lampard, the swerving shot almost beating Benfica goalkeeper Arthur, who had to contort his body to make an outstanding save.

The start of the second half began much like the first, Benfica out of the blocks much quicker, with possession theirs early doors, Gaitan striking wide of Cechs goal with a long-range effort.

Soon after, Cardozo rose well to convert a free header but the offside flag was raised almost immediately, replays proved justification enough.

Benfica continued to have the larger portion of the possession percentages.

Despite this, Chelsea’s midfield five of Lampard, Luiz, Mata, Oscar and Ramires were beginning to knock on Benfica’s door with renewed vigour and guile.

But it was striker Fernando Torres who broke the deadlock just shy of the hour mark.

Showing good strength to evade the challenge of the experienced Brazilian centre back Luisao, before having the necessary composure to dummy the goalkeeper who hit the deck and despatched the goal with an assured finish.

Back came Benfica though and eight minutes later they were level, after being awarded a penalty following Cesar Azpilicueta’s handball, Cardozo drilling the ball down the middle, Cech no chance.

The equaliser took Cardozos goal tally against British opposition to ten, who appeared injured following despatch of the penalty kick, he returned to the field shortly after.

Benfica were the first of the two finalists to make a change, an injury to influential defender Garay forcing manager Jorge Jesus’ hand, Jardel his replacement.

The reshuffle at the back didn’t deter the Portuguese side from their ultimate goal, Cardozo the threat as ever, crafting a vivacious volley from outside the area that dipped late and needed Cechs fingertips to push it over the bar.

A trademark Lampard hit went even closer; rattling Arthurs woodwork as the shot dipped late two minutes from time.

In true Chelsea style, with the three minutes of added time almost up, good work from Ramires down the right earned the blues a corner, delivered long by Mata, a towering header produced by Ivanovic to settle the tie and win the Europa League crown.

It was in many ways, redemption for the Serbian defender, who twelve months earlier missed out on a Champions League final berth after picking up a yellow card in the semi finals that ruled him out.

On being the match winner the Serb said: ‘Great feeling, this team deserved this after a difficult season and a lot of games.’

Also as a side note, Rafa Benitez’ turbulent tenure as Chelsea manager reaped a

trophy, an achievement of which the Spaniard was proud.

‘Great performance in the second half, pleased for the players and everyone involved. I’m proud, it was not easy, really pleased really proud.’

The man who got the ball rolling for Chelsea on the night and took his goal tally for the season to 21 goals in all competition was delighted with the win:

‘Very happy, it was a hard way to get to Amsterdam, maybe Benfica deserved a bit more, individual quality made the difference.’

‘First half was not good enough, we had to change our mentality to win the Europa League.’

Finally, club record goal scorer Frank Lampard, captaining the side in John Terry’s absence through injury, praised the teams togetherness:

‘We’re a team, a little tired tonight, but the desire is in this team, you make your own luck, and stuck together and the fans.’

When asked about the rumours of a new one-year contract being on the table, the midfielder replied with genuine sincerity:

‘I really hope so, with the game tonight and the game at the weekend, we haven’t sat down properly but the clubs been brilliant.’

On the Comeback Trail

Injuries in sport are commonplace nowadays and the rough and tumble of Super League is no different.

However, for Leeds Rhinos star Ben Jones-Bishop a far from run of the mill injury has kept him on the sidelines since the turn of the year.

The winger was preparing for the annual Boxing Day friendly, with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats the visitors to Headingley Carnegie over the festive period, when a routine scan showed evidence of a blood clot on his lung.

By this point, the Rhinos preseason training schedule was in full force. A warm weather training camp in Portugal was scheduled for January, and two months remained until the new Super League season was due to start in February, Jones-Bishop would miss out on both.

‘My initial reaction was of shock and disbelief, straight after the scan the doctor was so concerned he wanted me to stay in hospital over Christmas and that was probably when I realised this was very serious. A Christmas that will never be forgotten! He immediately told me that this would mean 6 months out of rugby, I was devastated.’

On diagnosis of the pulmonary embolism, doctors advised the 24 year old to avoid all full contact training for three months, and all exercise would be stopped with his rehabilitation beginning immediately.

A course of warfarin medication was then given to thin the blood and dissolve the clots.

‘For a month I wasn't allowed to do any exercise. The beginning of February I began training again. I had to wear a heart rate monitor and was capped at 140 bpm. Each week the cap went up 10 beats and training gradually picked up intensity. This continued for 6 weeks then after another ECG scan that showed the pressure had reduced I was allowed to train with no restrictions.’

Five months on from the initial diagnosis and the long-term casualty is seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

‘The recovery is going well. After 3 months the clots were gone and now it's just a case of waiting for the specialists to be happy before I can return to full contact training and ultimately being back on the pitch. Other than contact, I've been in all forms of training for a while now so am pretty much fit and ready to go once given the green light.’

When quizzed on when Rhinos fans would likely see the winger back in action, the player remained tight lipped.

‘Training is full on at the minute and am literally waiting for the green light to be back in action. We have a date lined up but I'd prefer to keep that to myself so ill say in the near future.’

A product of the Leeds academy, Jones-Bishop ran out second top try scorer with 23 tries from 32 games last season.

Most notably he registered tries against both Manly Sea Eagles and Warrington Wolves in the World Club Challenge and Grand Final respectively, in addition to terrorising the Wakefield backline to record two hat tricks against the Wildcats.

His club form over the last couple of years was rewarded by England coach Steve McNamara with a call up to the England Knights squad and being included in the squad for the Four Nations.

In 2011, the England Knights programme was created to bridge the gap between club level and the national team for the younger players.

The squad is comprised of 25 players from 11 Super League clubs.

The players’ main target will of course be to regain his place in the Rhinos 13, but with 2013 being World Cup year, the former Queens amateur knows it will be an uphill task to be selected in time for the curtain raiser against Australia at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on October 26^th.

‘It will be tough I reckon as I would have missed two thirds of the season. But if I come back and hit the ground running, then I'd like to think there's a chance. I’ve been fortunate to be selected for a few England squads over the last couple of years so hopefully I can put myself in the picture come selection time.’


**This interview piece was conducted at the end of April. Since that date Sky Sports have reported Ben is looking at returning to the field by the end of June.

Ode of Me

Time for something a bit different from the usual sports related ramblings, so different in fact..some have called it poetry, something I've never tried...and never intended to try.

Nothing too serious mind, more a light-hearted stab in the dark at storytelling.

The subject matter itself is drawn from my own meandering experiences over the last few years (albeit very briefly).

The back story to this is simple enough, a friend of mine (Jess) messaged me complaining about the never ending essay she was buried under and requested/demanded a story.

So I thought, for a laugh, give the people what they want.

Heres the result:

There once was a man named Richard, who dreamed of being some sort of wizard.

Stuck in a dead end job, he felt like a nob, he decided to change his ways.

Onwards to college, it went in a flash, with plenty of time spent on the lash.

Like a true student, He wasn't too prudent, bit of a saucy minx.

Soon enough he'd made it to Uni, a
few short years ago the concept was loony.

But nevertheless all very good, he'd finally made it to the HUD.

- R. Potter, 6th May 2013.