Europa League on Betfair: Last ditch Chelsea win another European trophy

16May 2013

Europa Liga

Mike Norman brings us tonight's In-Play odds matched from a dramatic Europa League final...

Chelsea have won the Europa League thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Benfica in tonight's final at the Amsterdam Arena.

The Blues left it late however, Branislav Ivanovic climbing superbly to head home a corner deep into injury time to give Chelsea their second European trophy in 12 months.

After a goalless first period - the Half Time 0-0 Score was matched at 3.15 - the game sprung into life 15 minutes into the second half when a long ball upfield from Petr Cech eventually found Fernando Torres. The Spaniard broke free of the Benfica defence before rounding the opposition keeper and calmly slotting home.

Torres was matched at 12.5 in the First Goalscorer market.

Rafa Benitez's men weren't in front for long however. Full back Cesar Azpilicueta was punished when a Salvio header struck his flailing arm, Oscar Cardozo firing home the penalty in emphatic style. A Penalty Taken was backed at a high of 5.2.

Both sides went for the win as extra time approached, Cardozo's half volley brilliantly tipped over by Cech while at the other end Frank Lampard rifled a 30-yard shot against the Benfica cross-bar.

But two minutes into stoppage time Ramires won a corner, and the rest, they say, is history.

Chelsea were matched at a high of 29.0 In-Play to win the game in 90 minutes, while the 2-1 Correct Score - as predicted by Betfair Ambassador Lee Dixon - was matched at 48.0. The Blues were backed at no higher than 13.0 to win the Europa League throughout the season.