RIVALDO GIVES CHELSEA THE BLUES
Rivaldo opened the scoring after 24 minutes, Luis Figo was brought down on the edge of the box and the Brazilian stepped up and attempted to flick the ball over the wall. The ball bounced off the unfortunate Celestine Babayaro, the Nigerian was later sent off, and past the despairing dive of Ed de Goey.
Chelsea`s only chance of the first half came with four minutes to go as a cross from the right eluded Ruud Hesp, who was distracted by Marcel Desailly and Tore Andre Flo missed the easy header.
Barca got themselves level on aggregate with a goal a minute before the break. Kluivert broke free and saw his shot from the edge of the box rebound off the post straight to Luis Figo who curled in a great finish past De Goey.
Chelsea hauled themselves back into the tie with a great goal from Flo on the hour, Barca had two chances to take the lead in the early minutes of the half but it was the Norwegian who latched onto a pathetic kick out by Hesp to curl his shot around the hapless Dutchman.
Three minutes later and Kluivert should have equalised the aggregate score as he headed a Rivaldo cross against the bar. The turning point in the match proved to be in the 64th minute as Dani replaced the ineffective Zenda.
Dani had three gilt-edged chances to score but missed them all only for Rivaldo to whip in an 84th minute cross and Dani to plant his header past De Goey.
With four minutes to go in normal time, Kluivert again got the better of his marker and darted into the box, Frank Leboeuf had to bring him down and he was lucky to only see yellow.
Rivaldo stepped up to take the penalty and sent De Goey the wrong way but the ball also as it went past the far post.
The aggregate score after 90 minutes was 4-4 with an away goal apiece and so extra-time was necessary. Chelsea`s grit and determination was battling with Barcelona`s flair and passion, willed on by a crowd approaching 100,000.
Jody Morris was excellent in midfield and he could only look on in horror as Bernard Lambourde dribbled the ball away on the six yard line, only for Dani to block his run and De Goey had to come to the Frenchman`s rescue with a brilliant reflex save.
The game was decided with seven minutes to go in the first period of extra-time, Figo, with some amazing skill, jinked his way around the Chelsea backline and only Babayaro`s challenge stopped him.
The Nigerian saw red and Rivaldo stepped up to stroke Barca`s second penalty of the night into the net. Five minutes later and a Kluivert header from a Dani cross killed the game off.
Flo had a couple of chances in the second-period of extra time but could not force the ball in.
The result leaves Barcelona playing Valencia in the Champions League semi-final, ensuring a Spanish side in the final.
After the game, Chelsea manager, Gianluca Vialli said: "We made a few mistakes, but gave it our best shot. We have to proud of ourselves.
"We didn`t defend well enough at set-pieces and forgot to play our football in the first half.
"But we started creating problems for them after half-time. The players are distraught because we were very close."
