Chelsea reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years after Hakim Ziyech and Emerson scored in a 2-0 second-leg win over Atletico Madrid.
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Having established a slender first-leg lead, Emerson Palmieri’s late strike sealed the win after Hakim Ziyech had earlier put the hosts firmly in control with a low effort after good work from Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
Until then their dominance in possession had not translated into chances in front of goal and in a nervy opening, chelsea also appeared fortunate to survive a penalty appeal after visiting winger Yannick Carrasco was pulled back by Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
But Italian official Daniele Orsato waved away the claim and the incident was not examined by VAR.
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Atletico knocked Liverpool out of the competition in dramatic fashion at the same stage last term, but the La Liga leaders rarely looked capable of recovering after Ziyech’s goal.
Stefan Savic was sent off late on for elbowing Antonio Rudiger in the 82nd minute.
Chelsea, who remain unbeaten in 13 games since Thomas Tuchel took charge, capitalised on the one man advantage with Emerson’s stoppage-time goal which sealed the win for the blues and deservedly progressed to the quarter finals stage.
© ControlTV 2021.
