Chelsea Wins Champions League in Shootout

First title for Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 20, 2012 5:59 AM CDT
Chelsea Wins Champions League in Shootout
Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates after scoring during the Champions League final soccer match between Bayern Munich and Chelsea in Munich, Germany Saturday May 19, 2012.    (Frank Augstein)

You can't keep Didier Drogba down. The charismatic striker was at the heart of Chelsea's unlikely comeback victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich last night, scoring the tying goal in the 88th minute and the winner on the final penalty kick of the 4-3 shootout. With two minutes to go and Chelsea down 1-0 to the German team in its home stadium, Drogba soared high from a corner to head home the equalizer and force 30 minutes of extra time, which ended 1-1.

When it was still level after four penalty kicks each, the 34-year-old from Ivory Coast who makes a habit of scoring crucial goals did so again, sliding home the winner and giving Chelsea its first Champions League title. "Football, like life, is unpredictable and crazy," said Chelsea interim coach Roberto di Matteo. "Nobody could have predicted the last three months. To finish like this is incredible. Whatever the future holds for me, I'd be happy." (More Chelsea stories.)

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