Paris Saint-Germain defenders Thiago Silva and David Luiz both struck to see their side overcome Chelsea on away goals following a 2-2 draw in their UEFA Champions League in the second leg of their feisty Last 16 tie.
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The Parisiens already difficult task was made more difficult by the questionable 30th minute dismissal of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a supposedly reckless tackle on midfielder Oscar.
Mourinho says of Zlatan that if the red was wrong (it was): “I hope they (Uefa) can minimise the mistake and let him play the quarter-final”
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 11, 2015
In spite of their man deficit, it was the French side who often appeared the more threatening, with Chelsea lacklustre for long periods. However, it was the Blues who took the lead with just 10 minutes of normal time when the ball fell kindly for central defender Gary Cahill in the area who made no mistake at hitting the back of the net.
Yet, there were more twists to come and Jose Mourinho was left rueing his side’s inability to maintain their lead when former-Blue David Luiz rose highest at the near post to power home a header via the crossbar.
It was enough to take the tie into extra-time and tensions were running high with seven yellow cards handed out by Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers on the night.
However, there were few complaints when Chelsea were awarded an obvious penalty just minutes later for a handball by PSG captain Thiago Silva. Eden Hazard stepped up and, as ever, converted coolly for his side.
Hazard was denied a penalty moments later when he appeared to dive under the challenge of goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, but Chelsea appeared largely content to sit back and protect their lead.
That task, though, was to prove difficult and with five minutes remaining ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into a wonderful save to deny Thiago Silva as the Brazilian rose highest from a corner.
Yet, the Belgian’s efforts were to prove in vain, with Thiago once more rising highest from the resulting corner to loop a header back across goal and over Courtois into the back of the net. With just minutes left, it was a hammer blow and PSG’s passage to the final eight was secured.
Mourinho: “I lost a football match. I don’t feel humiliated. I just want to play Sunday. It’s a pity we don’t play tomorrow.” #UCL
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2015
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich took advantage of an early red card for Shakhtar Donetsk defender Olexandr Kucher to inflct a 7-0 thrashing upon their Ukrainian visitors.
Forward Thomas Muller converted the resulting penalty before Jerome Boateng added a second to give Bayern a comfortable lead at the break.
In the second half, though, the Bavarian giants were merciless in attack adding a further five goals through Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze and Muller again.
Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League this season: 1-0 vs. Man City 2-0 vs. Roma 3-0 vs. CSKA Moscow 7-0 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 11, 2015
Shakhtar, so resilient in earning a 0-0 draw at home just weeks ago, were left humiliated and Bayern made to look brilliant in victory. Pep Guardiola’s side will now take their place in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League as they seek to make amends for last year’s disappointment in the competition.
