Chelsea's bid for a third European final in as many years vanished in a blur of red and white stripes as Atletico Madrid found the cutting edge that had eluded them in a goalless first leg.
There is to be no reunion with Carlo Ancelotti in a dream final against Real Madrid. No sentimental return to Lisbon for Jose Mourinho.
And playing a significant role in the heartbreak - wasn't this inevitable - was Thibaut Courtois, who made several key saves to deny his parent club a path to glory.
The Chelsea boss must be getting sick of the script fate has been handing him in recent seasons.
It was his fourth semi-final defeat in a row in this competition and his hopes of a third crown with a third different club must wait.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Mourinho pinpointed the key moments at the start of the second half as the ones which condemned his side to Champions League heartbreak.
“The difference was one minute in the second half, where the Atletico goalkeeper makes an impossible save from John Terry's header and instead of 2-1 to Chelsea, a few second later it was a penalty and they scored,” Mourinho said. “So in one minute, two actions decided the game.
“After that, my team was playing with honour and pride and professionalism to give everything but after that moment the game was completely controlled. Atletico were very mature and intelligent the way they controlled the game.
“These matches are normally decided by details and that minute. We never had the chance to play against them with an advantage.
