The Europa League Final in Amsterdam 2013

can you hear the cheers, Fernando?
I remember long ago another European night like this

I went to Amsterdam with my friend Karl from Canada this past week for the Europa League Final between Chelsea and Benfica.

 



That was the fifth time I saw Chelsea played this year.



At every Chelsea game, I was hoping the fans would sing the Abba song 'Fernando'. They did not.

Both Chelsea and Benfica started this season playing in the Champions League and both were eliminated after the Group phase. But both finished third in their respective group so they were allowed (I think it is a silly rule) to move over to the Europa League.

Chelsea won the Champions League last season so this Final was a bit of a step down for them.

Benfica has not won any European trophy for 50 years. During that time, their rival Porto has won 4.

The Portuguese fans were very loud and passionate during the game, much more than the English. The Portuguese team also outplayed Chelsea for most of the game.

 

but often, rather than try to score directly, Benfica players preferred to pass the ball around.

 

we had great seats for the match, especially when Oscar Cordozo scored for Benfica.

 







The game was tied at 1-1 at 90 minutes and I thought we would have extra time and then penalty kick. The last 2 European Finals involving Chelsea have gone to penalty kick.

I started to dream of the penalty kick taking place in front of us but then the little Brazilian Ramires won a corner for Chelsea in injury time. Juan Mata delivered the corner and the defender Ivanovic got away from his marker, rose up and headed the ball into the opposite corner.

Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 to become the first English clubs to win all 3 types of European trophies. Only Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Ajax Amsterdam have accomplished this feat.

Karl and I left the stadium before the award ceremony. The subway was full of Benfica fans and it was very quiet. No one was singing.

After seeing Chelsea so many times this year, I had learned a few of the songs popular with their fans (we know who we are - champions of Europe, Jose coming home, super super Frank, there is only one England captain, etc.)

but in the metro after the game, the song I sang in my head was ABBA's Fernando.

Minute 59. The Chelsea goalkeeper had the ball and made a long throw toward the center circle. Juan Mata tried to control the ball but could not but he got a touch of it. The ball went forward and Fernando Torres beat a Benfica defender to it. He then dribbled past the Benfica captain Luisao and then past the goalie and scored.

It was a beauty.

I was happy for Torres. He had not scored a lot of goals for Chelsea since the move from Liverpool.
Many people said he was not good anymore.

there was something in the air tonight
the stars were bright, Fernando
they were shining there for you and Mata
for Chelsea fans, Fernando
though I never thought that we could lose
there is no regret
if you never score a goal again
i's ok , my friend, Fernando.

from Amsterdam, this is a singing Sebastian