Monaco are through to meet FC Porto in the final of the Champions League after drawing 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight to win the tie 5-3 on aggregate.
There was real expectation in Stamford Bridge before the game and the vociferous home support were rewarded with the first real scoring chance in the 16th minute. Geremi hit a stinging drive from 20-yards which, the goalkeeper failed to hold and when the loose ball fell to Joe Cole he screwed the ball wide when he should have at least hit the target.
However the Stamford Bridge roof was raised when Chelsea took the lead after 22 minutes. Jesper Gronkjaer hit a curling cross from the right and it crept inside the far top corner - and Chelsea were on their way.
Fernando Morientes was predictably Monaco's main threat and he came agonisingly close when hitting the post from close range after 25 minutes. Then shortly before half time he should have scored but inexplicably hit wide from six yards out after a good run into the Chelsea box.
Chelsea made his wastefulness pay after 44 minutes time when Frank Lampard scored after collecting a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen. He raced into the box before firing past the on-rushing Flavio Roma in the Monaco goal. But Chelsea's celebrations were cut short two minutes into extra time at the end of the half when Hugo Ibarra bundled a ball over the Chelsea line from a Morientes header to leave Claudio Raneiri with a less comfortable half-time team talk.
Chelsea had a good chance to bring the aggregate score level after 51 minutes. Wayne Bridge crossed low from the left but Gronkjaer wasted the chance as he fired over at the far post, while Lampard had another shot saved shortly after.
Then Morientes punished Chelsea on the hour to leave the Stamford Bridge club needing three goals to stay in the competition. He exchanged passes with Bernardi before blasting the ball past Carlo Cudicini from just inside the area.
Chelsea boss Claudio Raneiri then made changes in an effort to save the tie, he sent on right-back Glen Johnson in place of Mario Melchiot after 63 minutes. Then it was Hernan Crespo - Chelsea's first leg scorer - who entered the scene in place of Jimmy Floyyd Hasselbaink after 69 minutes, while Scott Parker replaced Geremi at the same time.
But the tie was beyond Chelsea by that time whose manager will not enjoy a Champions League final farewell before he leaves the club at the end of the season.
Filed by Johnny Proby
