Bowed but proud as Rovers edged out in extra-time by Chelsea

The players sunk to their haunches at the final whistle, with Morten Gamst Pedersen inconsolable after seeing two late chances fail to find the net, before Michael Ballack struck an extra-time winner at Old Trafford.

Rovers had started slowly, behind to quadruple-chasing Chelsea after just 16 minutes through a Frank Lampard strike, but a roaring second half when kicking towards their army of 25,000 supporters, Mark Hughes’ men piled on the pressure.

They deservedly hauled themselves level on 62 minutes when Jason Roberts turned in Pedersen’s free-kick, before Chelsea ‘keeper Petr Cech took centre stage with a string of important stops, before Pedersen first hit the bar, and then planted a free header wide.

And despite Ballack denying them in extra-time, captain Ryan Nelsen was proud of his troops.

“The dressing room is gutted,” said Nelsen. “We’re all bitterly disappointed, to tell you the truth.

“We were so close and we worked ever so hard. We could not have put in any more effort out there.

“We were in the ascendancy when Robbo scored. In all honesty, there was only two outcomes in my head. Either we were going to win or it was going to penalties.”

Pedersen turned in a man-of-the-match display, but reflecting on his two chances, said: “It was a cross and I tried to head the ball in the goal and it went wide. It’s as simple as that.

“I tried to place the ball, I tried to direct it inside the post, but it went wide. I will have to practice more.

“Overall, I think we did well. We are really happy. Chelsea are a good side and they punished us.

“But we are all pleased about the way we played.

“We worked hard, we tried everything, but there’s nothing we can do now, we have to get this out of our heads and look forward to the league, and fight for a European spot.”

Nelsen said Rovers’ second half display demonstrated plenty about their character, and admits the fans’ backing was key to their improved display after the break.

He added: “The supporters were incredible. In the second-half, when we were on attacking that goal, the fans behind were incredible.

“They were our 12th man and they really did the town proud.”

Andriy Shevchenko and Joe Cole missed chances to put the game beyond Rovers with the score at 1-0, but after Roberts’ equaliser, the waves of Rovers pressure put Chelsea on the back foot. Brad Friedel would eventually be beaten by Ballack’s left foot strike, and reserved praise for opposite number Cech for keeping Rovers out.

“He is an outstanding goalkeeper. On another day, we would have come away with a victory,” said Friedel. “I think Chelsea should consider themselves extremely lucky to have a goalkeeper like him.

“As the game progressed in the second-half, we just got stronger and stronger. We are a very fit team. It was a warm day and they’ve had a lot of games.

“We knew that at some stage their legs would start to tire. We just wanted to keep going and going at them, and hoped to get two goals in the second-half but it was not to be.

“The supporters were tremendous. “I know they will go home disappointed, but hopefully they will be pleased with the effort the lads put in.”

Chelsea booked their place in the Wembley final, but not before an almighty scare. And striker Benni McCarthy felt the would-be champions certainly knew they were in the game. And McCarthy had full confidence in Friedel being the matchwinner, had the game gone to penalties.

“We are unhappy for losing, but we can’t be too sad of the way things turned out,” said the South African. “We can be proud of our performance.

“We gave it everything we’ve got, we worked our socks off.

“The way we performed was super. Hats off to our boys, it was fantastic stuff against the champions.

“We gave them a run for their money, right through to the end, to the last few minutes of extra-time.

“I just thought we gave it our best shot and we really went out there and gave it everything.

“But, at the end of the day, it just wasn’t meant to be. But we can go home proud and happy.”