Late goals give Barcelona 2-1 win at Chelsea
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-23 08:56

There was no doubt Del Horno played the man and not the ball but TV replays suggested he tried to evade the Argentine who took full advantage of the situation with a number of theatrical rolls on the ground after he fell.

Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho reacts during play against Barcelona during their Champions League first knockout round first leg soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London February 22, 2006. [Reuters]

"The kid (Messi) is not just a very good football player, he jumps, he provokes the contact with Del Horno and because of that the referee gives a red card. He rolls and rolls and rolls, it wasn't a red card, of course not," Mourinho told Sky TV.

"The game is then completely different. Before the red card it was a pure game, 11 against 11, two good teams tactically thinking a lot about the game, not many mistakes, not many chances but an open game.

"There is no point talking about the game after that. I will say I was very proud of my players and in the circumstances they played with a lot of heart."

COLE SACRIFICED

Mourinho, a master of tactical substitutions immediately re-jigged his side, bringing on Geremi to shore up the left-hand side and sacrificing the creativity of Joe Cole in midfield.

Barca now had numerical superiority on the mud heap of a pitch and, after a brief Chelsea assault at the start of the second half, dominated the play with Ronaldinho at the heart of all their attacks and Deco an inspiration in midfield.

Ronaldinho's free kick not only led to their opening goal but his powerful surge through the mud despite tiring legs 10 minutes from time set up substitute Henrik Larsson.

Larsson, in acres of space with a depleted home defence stretched to breaking point, played the ball back to Rafael Marquez whose whipped cross was headed home by Eto'o.

The goal gave Barcelona victory on the night and control of the tie ahead of next month's return leg in Spain.

"Now the point is what we are going to do to Barcelona?" said Mourinho. "Do we face up to a very difficult situation now or do we go for a nice trip to a beautiful place?"