Ramires' delightful chip just before half-time provided a timely boost in Chelsea's incredible come-from-behind aggregate win at Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final tie last night.
An astonishing end to the first half saw Sergio Busquets open the scoring for Barcelona before Blues skipper John Terry was given a straight red card for a petulant knee into the back of Alexis Sánchez.
Andrés Iniesta then calmly finished from a Lionel Messi through-ball to seemingly put the hosts clear.
Chelsea looked dead and buried but Ramires, who was booked in the aftermath of Iniesta's goal and would play no part in the final, struck in first-half stoppage-time and his goal was a thing of beauty.
Dashing 60 yards from the right-back position, where he was switched following Terry's dismissal, he flew past Frank Lampard who picked him out with a rolled pass.
Cutting in, Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés came out to narrow the angle, but Ramires produced some Brazilian magic to chip over his head with backspin, with the ball plopping into the net.
"It was a crucial goal. With the goal, the advantage was back with us," Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo said after the game.
And a heroic second-half display saw them home with Messi hitting the bar from the penalty spot before substitute Fernando Torres clinched a staggering 3-2 triumph on aggregate.
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| Chelsea player Ramires scores with a delightful chip over Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés Photo: Getty Images |
An astonishing end to the first half saw Sergio Busquets open the scoring for Barcelona before Blues skipper John Terry was given a straight red card for a petulant knee into the back of Alexis Sánchez.
Andrés Iniesta then calmly finished from a Lionel Messi through-ball to seemingly put the hosts clear.
Chelsea looked dead and buried but Ramires, who was booked in the aftermath of Iniesta's goal and would play no part in the final, struck in first-half stoppage-time and his goal was a thing of beauty.
Dashing 60 yards from the right-back position, where he was switched following Terry's dismissal, he flew past Frank Lampard who picked him out with a rolled pass.
Cutting in, Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés came out to narrow the angle, but Ramires produced some Brazilian magic to chip over his head with backspin, with the ball plopping into the net.
"It was a crucial goal. With the goal, the advantage was back with us," Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo said after the game.
And a heroic second-half display saw them home with Messi hitting the bar from the penalty spot before substitute Fernando Torres clinched a staggering 3-2 triumph on aggregate.
