MADRID (Reuters) - Real
Madrid qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League despite having one foot out of the door after a brave Chelsea fightback in the second leg of their quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
Chelsea led 3-0 on the night and were 10 minutes away from going through after losing the first leg 3-1 before Rodrygo took the game into extra-time where Karim Benzema scored the goal that took Real Madrid through on a dramatic night in the Santiago Bernabeu.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel said after his side’s 3-1 defeat in Stamford Bridge a week ago that his side had no chance of getting back into the tie, but it seems the coach was bluffing as his side tore into Real Madrid.
Seventeen minutes into the game Mason Mount ran onto Timo Werner’s through ball before running into the Madrid area and beating Thibaut Courtois with a confident finish.
With no away goals rule, that opened the tie up completely and Chelsea looked increasingly confident, pushing Real Madrid deeper and deeper as the half progressed.
The reigning Champions’ second goal came four minutes into the second half when Antonio Rudiger climbed highest to head Mount’s corner beyond Courtois’ reach to level the tie.
Real Madrid had done little in attack, but just after the goal Reece James made a timely challenge to block Karim Benzema.
Benzema then set up Fede Valverde, who fired just wide, before Marcos Alonso had the ball in the net only for the VAR to rule it out for handball.