Chelsea 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain
(3-3 on aggregate - PSG go through on away goals)
Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League on away goals after 10-man Paris Saint-Germain defied the odds at Stamford Bridge.
PSG's task was made hard in the first half when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given his marching orders for tangling with Brazilian playmaker Oscar.
But the French giants took the tie to extra time and skipper Thiago Silva scored a late header to break Blues hearts.
The captain looked to have cost his team when he handled and allowed Eden Hazard to restore Chelsea’s lead at the start of the additional 30 minutes.
Hazard had calmly slotted home from 12 yards after David Luiz had cancelled out Gary Cahill’s opener to force the game to go the distance.
Nemanja Matic was available for selection once again after serving his domestic suspension and the tall Serbian took his place in midfield at the expense of Kurt Zouma.
Charismatic defender Luiz was named in the PSG starting XI on his return to Stamford Bridge following his mega-money move to the French outfit in the summer.
The Blues were favourites to progress to the quarter-finals thanks to Branislav Ivanovic’s away goal three weeks ago in a 1-1 at the Parc des Princes.
It was a quiet opening half-hour in west London before the game finally exploded into life.
Ibrahimovic and Oscar both slid in for a loose ball but referee Bjorn Kuipers ruled the Swedish striker had used excessive force and brandished the red card.
Laurent Blanc’s plans were in tatters and the studious Frenchman was left to reorganise his 10 remaining PSG players for an uphill task to rescue the tie.
His challenge was almost made even more difficult before the break when Diego Costa went tumbling under the challenge of Edinson Cavani but this time Kuipers was unmoved.
Jose Mourinho reacted to the rising temperature at half time by swapping Oscar, cautioned in the first 45 minutes and looking increasingly hot-headed, with compatriot Willian.
Cavani had a golden opportunity to put the visitors in front after the restart but he crashed an effort against the post after rounding Blues goalkeeper Thiabut Courtois.
The angle was tight but it felt like a huge miss from the long-haired Uruguayan hitman as the clock ticked past the hour mark under the glare of the floodlights at the Bridge.
PSG looked dangerous when the match was flowing but repeated scuffles between the two sets of players meant the French side couldn’t build up a head of steam.
Chelsea eventually found the breakthrough with 10 minutes remaining.
Cesc Fabregas whipped in a corner, which the away side failed to deal with, giving a grateful Cahill the chance to slam home what looked to be the winner.
However the lead didn’t last long as the Parisians won a set-piece of their own at the other end and the returning Luiz headed in superbly to force extra time.
Having worked so hard to take the game the distance, a moment of sheer madness from Silva swung this one back in favour of the hosts.
Silva challenged substitute Zouma for the ball with his arm raised and was adjudged to have handled to give Hazard the chance to put Chelsea back in front.
And the Belgian was as cool as you like from the spot, giving PSG keeper Salvatore Sirigu the eyes, before rolling it home to restore his team’s advantage.
But there was to be late drama as Silva atoned for his earlier error with a towering header which looped over Courtois and into the far corner of the net.
Chelsea were out and must now focus their attentions on securing the Premier League to add to their Captial One Cup triumph.
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic (Zouma, 84); Ramires (Drogba, 90), Oscar (Willian, 45), Hazard; Costa
Subs (not used): Cech, Luis, Cuadrado, Remy.
