In the second leg of a Champions League semifinal, where all Chelsea had to do was win at home to earn a spot in the final, it was all too easy to bet on Jose Mourinho. When maligned striker Fernando Torres scored the opening goal to put Chelsea ahead 1-0 on aggregate, it seemed Chelsea was conjuring the same magic that drove them to the 2012 Champions League title.
All it took was one defensive mistake from in the final moments of the first half to change everything, and spark Atlético Madrid to the Champions League final in Lisbon.
Adrián tucked in a goal past Chelsea backup Mark Schwarzer in the 44th minute after a far-post run and cross from Juanfran, who blazed past a sleeping Eden Hazard.
John Terry, who lost his footing at the worst possible time, barely missed deflecting Juanfran's cross. Chelsea, now down an away goal, needed to chase the game in the second half.
Atlético never gave Chelsea a chance. Substitute Samuel Eto'o conceded a penalty on the edge of the area just minutes after coming on the pitch, taking out Diego Costa with a poorly timed tackle. Costa stepped to the spot and converted after receiving a yellow card for time wasting.
Chelsea had chances to even the game - David Luiz hit the post with a header from a Willian free kick - but Atlético's Arda Turan put the game out of reach in the 72nd. Turan's header from another devastating cross was pushed off the bar, but it rebounded right back to him for an easy finish.
It will be an all-Madrid final in Lisbon, as Atlético tries to win its first-ever European Cup. With a four point lead in La Liga, 2014 could be the best year in Atlético's long history by the end of May. It's the fastest-growing sports site ever.
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