Europa: Chelsea end season on good note

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http://www.aljazeera.com/sport/football/2013/05/2013515211134509214.html

The game in Amsterdam seemed destined for extra time after Fernando Torres' superb 60th-minute opener for Chelsea was cancelled out by an Oscar Cardozo penalty, only for Ivanovic to net a dramatic winner with a looping header in stoppage time.

The 93rd-minute header from Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea a stunning 2-1 victory over Benfica in the Europa League final on Wednesday as the London club claimed the trophy for the first time in heart-stopping fashion.

Victory made Chelsea the first team to simultaneously hold the Champions League and Europa League titles, although they will relinquish their Champions League crown in 10 days.

More lasting is the statistic that they are only the fourth club to have claimed Europe's three major trophies - including the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup - after Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, joins Giovanni Trapattoni as one of only two coaches to have won the trophy with two different clubs, following his 2004 success with Valencia.

The manner of defeat was cruel on Jorge Jesus' enterprising side and means that Benfica have now lost seven consecutive European finals since claiming their last major continental crown in 1962.

Lampard signs one-year extension with Chelsea
Record goalscorer Frank Lampard has signed a one-year contract extension with Europa League winners Chelsea, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

The 34-year-old England midfielder, who broke Bobby Tambling's all-time Chelsea scoring record of 202 goals this month, will remain at Stamford Bridge for a 13th season.