Amsterdam, Netherlands – Chelsea added another European trophy to its cabinet on Wednesday as Branislav Ivanovic scored in stoppage time to hand the Blues a dramatic 2-1 win over Benfica in the Europa League final.
Fernando Torres put Chelsea in front in the 59th minute, but Benfica equalized through Oscar Cardozo in the 68th when he converted a penalty kick.
But much like last year's Champions League final, Chelsea scored on a late corner kick, this time to win the match.
Juan Mata swung the ball to the back post for Ivanovic, who created enough space to head the ball back across the face of goal and inside the far post, leaving Benfica goalkeeper Artur with no chance.
After losing the lead in the Portuguese Liga to FC Porto in similar fashion over the weekend, Benfica was looking to Wednesday's match as a way to recover.
The Portuguese outfit was on top in the first 30 minutes, but failed to find the net, while Chelsea's best opportunity came with a well-struck shot from Frank Lampard which Artur kept out with an awkward save.
Cardozo thought he had given Benfica the lead in the 51st minute when he headed the ball home from eight yards, but the goal was pulled back for offsides.
Torres finally broke the deadlock eight minutes later when Mata's quick flick in midfield released the striker, who rounded Artur inside the area and rolled the ball into the empty net.
Chelsea gave the lead away in the 68th after defender Cesar Azpilicueta was called for handling the ball inside his own penalty area, allowing Cardozo to send goalkeeper Petr Cech the wrong way from the spot.
Cardozo forced Cech into an important save in the final 10 minutes, and Lampard came even closer for Chelsea in the 88th with a shot that struck the crossbar.
But with the game on the verge of extra time, Chelsea claimed its second European trophy in as many seasons with the late goal from Ivanovic, while Benfica was left heartbroken for the second time in a week.
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