Chelsea, coached by Avram Grant and Yossi Benyoun's team Liverpool reached the semifinals of the Champions League yesterday.
Benyaoun watched his teammates from bench as they defeated Arsenal 4-2 in a dramatic match while Grant's Chelea reached the semis for the fourth time in five seasons with a 2-0 with a win over Fenerbahce.
Chelsea reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 2004, 2005 and 2007. It was defeated first by AS Monaco, then twice by Liverpool. Chelsea will meet Premier League rival Liverpool in the semifinals.
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The result extended Chelsea's home unbeaten streak in Europe to 11, a run dating back 26 months. Fenerbahce, which reached the quarterfinals for the first time and is coached by Brazilian great Zico, hasn't won away from home this season in the Champions League.
After Ballack's goal, the Blues continued to attack in the first half, with Joe Cole hitting the post and Ballack forcing a save from Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.
Didier Drogba curled a shot just over the bar in the 22nd minute, and four minutes later, Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini limped off with what appeared to be an injury to his right hamstring.
He was replaced by Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Hilario, who hadn't played since January 8 - in the English League Cup. It was only his sixth appearance of the season and his first in the Champions League.
First-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech is also out for Chelsea out after having surgery for ripping his lip during a training accident on Sunday. He is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.
Fenerbahce had its first opportunity when Lugano headed a free kick from Alex past the post from close range in the 31st.
The Turkish side then grew in confidence but failed to capitalize on its possession - generating no shots on target in the first half.Drogba had a shot saved a minute into the second half and had a scuffed shot saved in the 56th. Chelsea sent on defender Juliano Belletti for Kalou in the 57th minute and Fenerbahce responded by sending on former Blues forward Mateja Kezman three minutes later.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard scored a late penalty and Ryan Babel added an injury-time goal yesterday to send Liverpool into the Champions League semifinals with a 4-2 win over Arsenal.The five-time champions beat Arsenal 5-3 on aggregate.Abou Diaby had given Arsenal the lead in the 13th minute, but Sami Hyypia equalized in the 30th and Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead in the 69th.Emmanuel Adebayor then scored in the 84th minute to give Arsenal the advantage in the two-leg series, but Gerrard responded from the penalty spot a minute later.
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