Soccer: Chelsea win Europa League with late goal

Branislav Ivanovic scored with an injury time header this morning (NZT) to give Chelsea a 2-1 win over Benfica in the Europa League final and secure the club's second European title in as many seasons after winning last year's Champions League.

The Serbian defender rose at the far post to send a looping header over Benfica goalkeeper Artur from a Juan Mata corner to seal the match in the 93rd minute.

A Fernando Torres solo effort gave Chelsea the lead on the hour mark and Oscar Cardozo leveled from the penalty spot eight minutes later setting the stage for Ivanovic's last-gasp decider.

Chelsea won despite playing without two key players, Belgium midfielder Eden Hazard and veteran central defender John Terry, who both picked up injuries in Sunday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. It was the second year running that Terry had to sit out a European final he was suspended for last year's Champions League decider and could only look on as his team beat Bayern Munich on penalties.

The last-minute defeat in front of 46,163 fans at the Amsterdam Arena meant more heartache for Benfica, which has not lifted a European trophy since 1962 when a promising 20-year-old striker called Eusebio fired in two goals to power his team to a 5-3 victory over Real Madrid, also in Amsterdam. Since that victory, Benfica has now lost all six European finals it reached and Eusebio was on hand to watch the latest defeat.

Torres, who has struggled to find the net consistently for Chelsea since his 2011 transfer from Liverpool, ignited the long-simmering match just in the 60th minute.

The Spaniard collected the ball just inside Benfica's half, used his strength to turn and wrestle past Ezequiel Garay and then beat captain Luisao before rounding Artur and calmly slotting in the net from a tight angle.

He sprinted to the corner and struck a Usain Bolt-style pose in front of the Chelsea fans.

Chelsea's lead only lasted eight minutes before Cesar Azpilicueta handled the ball just inside the area and Cardozo smashed in the penalty to bring Benfica level.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages, with Petr Cech tipping over a dipping left-foot Cardozo volley and Lampard firing a long-range shot onto the bar in the 88th minute before Ivanovic's match winning header five minutes later.

-AP