Chelsea in sight of Moscow dream

Chelsea have spent three years cursing their luck at the hands of Liverpool in Champions League semi-finals - but it was payback time in the dying seconds at Anfield.

In the time it took John Arne Riise to head Salomon Kalou's cross into his own goal four minutes into stoppage time in front of a stunned Kop, a huge psychological weight lifted off Chelsea and shifted on to Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho still talks of Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" in the 2005 semi-final, and last season Chelsea were left to curse a defeat on penalties at the same stage at Anfield.

But it was Liverpool, and a red-faced Rafael Benitez, who were left bemoaning their luck after a performance that deserved victory and yet was rewarded only with the cruellest of draws.

Benitez pointed an accusing finger at Austrian referee Konrad Plautz for a variety of perceived offences, but he may find sympathy in short supply given the Arsenal's valid sense of injustice after their quarter-final defeat to his side.

Chelsea have made a habit of falling at this last four hurdle, but they - and their much-mocked manager Avram Grant - will never have a better chance to finally reach their goal.

And for Russian owner Roman Abramovich, he will see the Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May as his own personal destiny.

Liverpool might have actually felt they were getting scant reward had they survived those few fateful final seconds and travelled to Stamford Bridge with only a single-goal lead.

But in the blink of an eye Petr Cech saved superbly from Fernando Torres, and Chelsea snatched that crucial away goal to leave Liverpool with only a draw to show for their efforts.

Chelsea celebrated and rightly so. They have known only European agony at Anfield before Riise's intervention.

They dug in with their usual resilience, but relied too much on Didier Drogba and were left grateful to their outstanding goalkeeper Cech for setting up the opportunity for that late sucker-punch.

Now Grant has the opportunity to do what his illustrious predecessor Mourinho could not do - overcome Liverpool to take Chelsea to the Champions League final.

But he will under-estimate Liverpool at his peril. He will need a lot more spark from key men like Frank Lampard - whose distraction was understandable given his mother's serious illness - and Michael Ballack to see this tie out.

And he may find Torres is not quite so forgiving in front of goal at Stamford Bridge. The Spanish marksman was just off his brilliant best at Anfield and let Chelsea off the hook.

It will be a close call again, but Chelsea have got what they have wanted in these clashes. They have got home advantage for the second leg backed up by a favourable result at Anfield.

If Chelsea fail this time there can be no excuses, and their opponents are still hugely dangerous.