Chelsea face an uphill task to try and reach the Champions League semi-finals when they host Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho's side need to overturn that two-goal after going down 3-1 in France last week.
There it was again. The manic touchline run. It was how we were introduced to Jose Mourinho, a decade ago, and how we will remember him after he is gone, too.
Cesar Azpilicueta shot, the ball caught a tiny hold-up deflection and fell to substitute Demba Ba. It wasn't, fair to say, the cleanest finish. Ba almost scooped it into the roof of the net, off his boot, off his shin, somehow looping over goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. No-one cared.
Chelsea were through, and off went Mourinho, down the line to join the celebrations by the corner flag, just as he had done when Porto equalised at Old Trafford to eliminate Manchester United in the same competition in 2004.
This, like that, was one of his greatest nights. Chelsea have come back from 3-1 down before in the Champions League, but not at this late stage and not against a team with the potential of Paris Saint-Germain.
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Made it: Chelsea celebrate their stunning victory over PSG that sent them into the semi-finals
Defining moment: Substitute Demba Ba slides home Chelsea's second goal to secure a semi-final place
Game over: Ba slides the ball home to complete Chelsea's comeback against PSG
Winner: Demba Ba celebrates after scoring the goal that sent Chelsea into the semi-finals
There he goes: Jose Mourinho races along the touchline after Chelsea added a second, crucial goal
Those looking for omens will be heartened, though. Reversing a 3-1 defeat by Napoli two years ago was part of the campaign that ended in Champions League victory under Roberto Di Matteo.
He is a shrewd one, though, Mourinho, so do not imagine for one moment that his dash to meet his players was inspired by elation only.
For a manager with no strikers, he had three on the pitch by then, and was probably telling them for what remained of the game they had to think defence first. A goal from PSG at that point would have eliminated Chelsea, surely. Amazingly, they nearly got it.
This was a night for old-fashioned heroes and none loomed larger than Petr Cech in Chelsea's goal. After his poor performance in the first leg, at fault for two goals, here was the reason Mourinho may yet resist bringing Thibault Courtois back from Atletico Madrid next season.
Cech was outstanding, most memorably four minutes into injury time when tipping around a low shot for substitute Marquinhos. Stamford Bridge was holding its breath by then; the visitors equally desperate.
MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech 8.5, Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 6.5, Luiz 6.5, Lampard 7 (Ba 66, 7), Willian 7.5, Oscar 6.5 (Torres 81), Hazard 5 (Schurrle 18, 8), Eto'o 6.5.
Subs Not Used: Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Kalas.
Booked: Willian, Lampard, Ivanovic, Luiz.
Goals: Schurrle 32, Ba 87.
PSG: Sirigu 6.5, Jallet 6.5, Alex 7, Thiago Silva 7, Maxwell 6.5, Verratti 6 (Cabaye 54, 6.5), Thiago Motta 7, Matuidi 6.5, Lucas Moura 6.5 (Marquinhos 84), Cavani 6.5, Lavezzi 7.5 (Pastore 72).
Subs Not Used: Douchez, Menez, Digne, Van Der Wiel.
Booked: Verratti, Cavani, Lucas Moura, Maxwell.
Ref: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).
Ratings from SAMI MOKBEL at Stamford Bridge
Blow: Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard was forced off with a thigh injury early in the first half
Setback: Hazard takes the applause of the crowd as he is forced off just minutes into the second leg
Early change: Hazard is replaced by Andre Schurle as Chelsea are forced into making a first-half substitution
Ivanovic blow for Mourinho
Branislav Ivanovic will miss the first leg of Chelsea's semi-final after picking up a booking at Stamford Bridge.
The knockout rounds with Chelsea are never anything less than the grandest theatre, and this was no exception. The final whistle blown, the Chelsea players danced in a corner to One Step Beyond, while PSG's slumped to the floor and Oscar left the field in tears. He will need to get used to it; history suggests it is the semi-final stage when the drama really takes off.
Mourinho has never lost a Champions League quarter-final tie but as the time drained from the game it really did look as if this would not be his night. Referees have denied him, and Chelsea, on occasions, but here the crossbar was the greatest enemy - repelling the home side twice in 60 seconds as they went in search of that elusive second goal.
Been here before: Mourinho ran down the touchline at Old Trafford in 2004 when he was manager of Porto
Instructions: Mourinho spoke to his players as they defended their lead in the dying minutes
Joining in: Jose Mourinho raced from the bench to instruct his players after Chelsea's late goal
Whisper it: Mourinho instructs Fernando Torres after Ba had scored for Chelsea
Despair: Paris Saint-Germain's Alex (centre) and his team-mates stand dejected after conceding
On hand: PSG keeper Salvatore Sirigu saves a free kick from Frank Lampard in the first half
Opener: Andre Schurrle fires home for Chelsea as they take the lead against PSG at Stamford Bridge
Helpless: PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu can only watch as Andre Shurrle's strike finds its way into the net
Not done yet: Schurrle celebrates with his Chelsea team-mates after opening the scoring
Wayward: Gary Cahill slices the ball over the bar as Chelsea push forward
What was that? John Terry gives Cahill a look after the defender blazed over from a good position
In the 52nd minute, a flowing exchange of passes ended with Oscar playing the ball out to Willian on the right. The Brazilian cut it back to Andre Schurrle who smashed his shot against the bar with goalkeeper Sirigu beaten. The ball came out and Lucas clumsily fouled Eto'o. A free-kick was awarded 25 yards out. Oscar took it and - crossbar again. Sirigu was truly leading a charmed life. At that moment the momentum was wholly with Chelsea. It was barely believable that, 35 minutes later, the score was still 1-0 and Paris were clinging on.
Really, the difference was nerve. Chelsea are a team that do not know when they are beaten, certainly in Europe, while Paris Saint-Germain have a touch of Manchester City about them.
They are still feeling their way through this tournament as a group and, when the pressure is on, they failed the test. Midway through the second-half, Edinson Cavani was put through by Yohan Cabaye, one on one.
Missing out: Zlatan Ibrahimovic takes his seat at Stamford Bridge to watch his side take on Chelsea
Watching brief: Blanc was without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of injury
Old friends? Ibrahimovic shakes hands with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
Sent flying: Willian went in hard on Lucas as Chelsea took the game to the visitors
Caution: Willian was shown an early yellow card for a blatant foul on Lucas
The PSG bench was on its feet, preparing to celebrate, but Cavani shot over. If the game had a turning point, there it was.
Had that gone in, Chelsea were as good as dead. The same could be said of Cech's save from a free-kick by Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 55th minute - Branislav Ivanovic's booking for the foul on Blaise Matuidi takes him out of the next match - or his stop from a low strike by Lucas.
With a single goal taking the required margin of victory to 4-1, Chelsea were always vulnerable. The glory goes to the goalscorers, but the worth of that nil cannot be underestimated, either.
The first 30 minutes were perhaps the most discomforting. So much work to do yet Chelsea barely laid a glove on Paris. They lost Eden Hazard, too.
So often the difference this season, the Belgian had not been travelling well for several minutes, when Mourinho bought matters to a head. Few managers make a firm touchline call like Mourinho.
Change of sport: Former tennis star Boris Becker was at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea take on PSG
Safe hands: Petr Cech makes a save to keep Chelsea in front at Stamford Bridge
In the book: Edinson Cavani was shown a yellow card for blocking David Luiz in the first half
Come on ref! Cavani will miss PSG's next game in Europe after going in the book in the first half
From me to you: PSG tweeted: 'Congratulations - the only Englishmen who do not want to leave Europe.'
He gave Hazard the option of continuing and receiving an uncertain reply, wasted no time: off came the talisman, on went Schurrle. The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge fell a little flat. Schurrle has had his moments this season - not least that hat-trick against Fulham - but he is no Hazard. What happened next, then, was something of an irony.
Schurrle scored the goal that brought Chelsea into this game. Funny how things work out. Where Hazard had clearly been carrying his injury, Schurrle brought energy and dynamism to the left flank. Not that his goal was the greatest example of either. What was it that Mourinho said about 19th century football earlier in the season? Here was a throwback to agricultural days - a goal Dave Bassett's Wimbledon would have been proud of, or Stoke City in the heyday of Rory Delap.
It came from a long throw by Ivanovic, sailing into the penalty area, flicked on by Luiz - more shoulder than head - into the path of Schurrle, arriving late into space. Sirigu did not even move to stop his first-time finish.
Chelsea were away and with time to spare - but few imagined they would leave the denouement so late. ‘Congratulations to Chelsea - the only Englishmen who do not want to leave Europe,’ read a PSG statement on Twitter. It is impossible to deny them, at times. Long may they run.
So close: Oscar curled a free kick on to the bar in the second half as Chelsea pushed forward
Stranded: Sirigu is left helpless as Oscar's free kick crashes off the bar in the second half
Crunch: Branislav Ivanovic fouls Blaise Matuidi just outside the box and earned a yellow card for his troubles
Chance: Cavani blazed over when he looked set to level for PSG and put them in the driving seat
Gutted: Cavani reacts after missing the chance to level the game on the night and put his side through
STAMFORD BRIDGE MATCH ZONE
Jose chatting to ball boys again
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s got a thing about ball boys at the moment.
After his ‘conversation’ with a Crystal Palace ball boy at Selhurst Park recently, he was at it again last night.
As early as the fifth minute, Mourinho was instructing one of the Stamford Bridge ball-boys to release the ball quicker when his side were in possession.
Making home advantage count is important, but is this taking it a step too far?
Stars are out at Bridge
Stamford Bridge was a celebrity spotter’s dream — and not just for the football talent.
Tennis legend Boris Becker was in west London taking in Wednesday’s game, as was former France president Nicolas Sarkozy. Ex-Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko was back at the Bridge, and — last but by no means least — Niall Horan of boyband One Direction was also in attendance.
Stylish Blanc puts Jose in shade
For once Jose Mourinho lost out in the managerial fashion stakes.
PSG boss Laurent Blanc (right) beat him hands down in the sartorial elegance category. The Chelsea manager ditched his usual club edition Dolce & Gabbana suit for a tracksuit and puffer jacket — attire he usually reserves for the Capital One Cup.
His opposite number on the other hand looked like he had stepped straight out of a Parisian fashion house, dressed to kill in a sharp black suit.
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