Chelsea snatched a Champions League lifeline as Liverpool defender John Arne Riise's last-gasp own goal allowed Avram Grant's side to escape with a 1-1 draw from Tuesday's semifinal first leg. Liverpool had dominated after taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt just before half-time at Anfield but it failed to press home that advantage. Petr Cech produced three superb saves to keep out Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and Chelsea was able to make Rafa Benitez's team pay in the final minute of stoppage time when Riise headed into his own net. Benitez was understandably devastated by the late goal. “It is really disappointing,” admitted the Spaniard. “An own goal at the end of the game, it really is a blow. We had the better chances but Petr Cech was pretty good at stopping them.” Cech said that Chelsea had deserved the rub of the green after being at the wrong end of two semifinal exits in the last three years by Liverpool. “We got a lucky goal but to be fair the way we played we deserved it,” he added. After suffering semifinal exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons, the Blues will have left Merseyside feeling luck was on their side at last. They lost to Luis Garcia's ‘phantom goal' in 2005 and were beaten on penalties last season. Now, bolstered by a precious away goal its tepid display hardly deserved, Chelsea will believe it can avenge those bitter memories and finish the job at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday. The crowd's frenzied passion didn't inspire many fireworks on the pitch. Goals are at a premium whenever these obdurate sides meet in Europe and it was a typically tentative start. Gradually Liverpool began to turn the screw and its relentless pressing played a key role in Kuyt's 43rd minute opener after Chelsea was unhinged by Alonso's quick free-kick. Kuyt robbed Lampard on the edge of the area and Javier Mascherano took a swipe at the loose ball. The Argentine's miscued effort should have been cleared but Claude Makelele rashly jumped in front of Ashley Cole and Kuyt was able to pounce, sliding his shot under Cech. With almost five minutes of injury time played, it looked as though Liverpool would take a deserved lead to Stamford Bridge for next week's second leg. However with Austrian referee Konrad Plautz looking at his watch, Chelsea substitute Salomon Kalou lofted one last high ball into the Liverpool penalty area. Riise, who had replaced the injured Fabio Aurelio after 62 minutes, stooped to try and head the ball clear, but instead headed it past helpless goalkeeper Pepe Reina and into the roof of his own net. Anfield fell silent as Liverpool was left to wonder if it would rue those missed chances. __
