It's almost fitting that on the night Micheal Ballack returned to Stamford Bridge to broadcast Chelsea's Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Manchester United for German television, the club lost yet another important chance at a knockout stage goal because the referee wouldn't give a penalty. In 2009, it was Tom Henning Ovrebo ignoring a whole slew of penalty shouts against Barcelona, in 2010, there were a couple more against Inter. But Patrice Evra's challenge on Ramires with Man United up 1-0 in the injury time might have actually been a bit more iffy and it was hardly enough to kill Chelsea's chances.
If you look closely, it appears Evra's sloppy challenge might have been juuuust outside the box. Still, for nothing at all to be called there was further proof that Roman Abramovich must have dined and dashed at a UEFA referees' luncheon at some point.
Anyway, there's still a whole second leg to go and if Edwin van der Sar had retired before this season instead of after it, Chelsea would already have a goal or two and that penalty shout wouldn't have mattered. But nevermind that -- it'll be nice to have at least one second leg match that will mean something.
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