Barcelona advances to Champions League final

Barcelona’s players were overjoyed. Chelsea’s were angry.

The Spanish leader advanced to the European Champions League final against Manchester United in dramatic fashion, tying Chelsea 1-1 Wednesday night when Andres Iniesta scored in the third minute of second-half injury time.

“We showed a lot of bravery and created a threat until right up to the end,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said.

Michael Essien scored on a 20-yard shot in the ninth minute for Chelsea, which lost last year’s final to Manchester United on penalty kicks.

But Iniesta beat goalkeeper Petr Cech after collecting a ball from Lionel Messi and tied the aggregate 1-1 in the home-and-home, total-goals semifinal. Barcelona, which finished a man short following Eric Abidal’s ejection in the 66th minute, advanced because of a 1-0 advantage in away goals.

Manchester United will try to win the title for the fourth time when it meets Barcelona on May 27 at Rome, following victories in 1968, 1999 and last year. Barcelona won Europe’s top club soccer crown in 1992 and 2006.

Chelsea players surrounded Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, angry they weren’t awarded at least two penalty kicks—one for a free kick he gave outside the penalty area after a foul that was within, the other for a hand ball that wasn’t called against Samuel Eto’o when he blocked a shot with his arm.

Didier Drogba, who had gone down twice inside the area, was pulled away from the official by Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

“Disgrace,” Drogba shouted at a television camera.

“There is an overall feeling of being robbed, injustice,” Hiddink said. “That’s why the players were so hot and angry, and I could understand the emotion of them. If you have seen three or four situations waved away, then it’s the worst I have seen. At this moment I have to think if I have seen worse.”

Hiddink came to the postgame news conference with notes of the penalties that never were and clutching a DVD of a match he will struggle to watch again.

“It’s not just one decision in doubt, but it’s several not-made decisions,” Hiddink said. “In big games like this you need top-notch referees who have had big experience in the leagues of Spain, Italy, England and Germany.”

Even Barcelona defender Gerard Pique acknowledged a ball struck him when under pressure from Nicolas Anelka in the closing minutes.

“To be fair the ball touched my hand, but I didn’t want to touch it,” Pique said. “The ref can decide what he wants, and he decided not to say it was a penalty, and you have to respect the decisions. Sometimes the decision is wrong, but I am just happy to qualify for the final. The other things we cannot control.”

Barcelona was without Thierry Henry, who didn’t dress because of a knee injury. Abidal and Daniel Alves (second yellow card) are suspended for the final. Carles Puyol will return for the final from a suspension, and Barcelona hopes defender Rafael Marquez can bounce back from a knee injury.

“It’s hard for Alves because he’s played all the games all season,” Guardiola said. “He puts all his emotions onto the field and sometimes it’s difficult for him to control them. We’re going to a final with different players but we are going to play with the same style, with the same target, with the same focus, going to take the ball, and try to create chances to score goals.”

Essien scored off the bottom of the crossbar, beating goalkeeper Victor Valdes after Ashley Cole fed Frank Lampard, who pass went off a Barca defender and came loose outside the area.

Valdes later raced off his line to beat Drogba to the ball. Chelsea should have had a penalty awarded when Florent Malouda was brought down by Alves a yard inside the area, although the referee ruled it happened on the edge.

Drogba should have made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when he collected a pass from Anelka and turned past a defender only for Valdes to block his shot with his leg.