Chelsea took a step towards the semifinals when they beat Bayern Munich 4-2 at Stamford Bridge yesterday without banned coach Jose Mourinho in their dugout.
Mourinho, suspended by Uefa after incidents in the last round against Barcelona and watching the match on television, must have been dancing around his set in joy as Frank Lampard struck twice in between goals by Joe Cole and Didier Drogba.
Mourinho's side outfought the German league leaders in an uncompromising quarter-final first leg which saw six players booked by Dutch referee Rene Temmink.
Bayern's hopes, which seemed in tatters going into the last minute of stoppage time, were revived when Michael Ballack scored a penalty with almost the last kick of the match, although Chelsea remain favourites to reach the last four.
Lampard's goals inside 10 minutes midway through the second half transformed the game after Cole had given Chelsea a fourth-minute lead before Bayern's 20-year-old substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised seven minutes into the second half.
But if Bayern, who eliminated Arsenal on their last visit to London three weeks ago, thought they had done enough to save the match, they had a nasty surprise in store.
The failure of their defence to deal with the long ball was to cost them dear as Lampard scored after 60 minutes and then again after 70 minutes to put Chelsea 3-1 up, before Didier Drogba rammed in the fourth from close range in the 81st.
Ballack's penalty award seemed a little fortunate as he appeared to fall easily after only a slight touch from defender Ricardo Carvalho.
It left the German side with a chance as their two away goals could yet prove decisive.
In yesterday's other quarter-final first leg, AC Milan downed rivals Inter Milan 2-0.
Soccer: Chelsea closer to semis
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