Football United

Real Betis ended Chelsea's unbeaten record in the Champions League this season with a 1-0 win in Seville on Tuesday. Substitute Dani scored the winner for Betis, sliding a ball past Petr Cech just moments after coming on for the injured Ricardo Oliveira.

The victory sees Betis move up to six points - just one behind second-placed Chelsea.

With all the talk of Chelsea requiring a win to virtually seal their passage into the knockout stages, it was the hosts that got out of the blocks the fastest, William Gallas sticking out a foot to prevent Joaquin putting Ricardo Oliveira clean through on goal.

In a fast and furious opening, Betis were forced to make two substitutions after just 20 minutes, with Oliveira forced out of the game and replaced by Dani.

And just three minutes later, the substitute found the net. Capi drilled in a cross from the left, Edu dummied, and Dani was left to prod the ball under the onrushing Cech.

And on the brink of half-time it was so nearly two. A speculative attempt from Edu swerved and could only be parried by Cech straight to Dani, who sent the follow-up wide.

Chelsea pressed for an equaliser, with Arjen Robben breaking through the Betis defence only to see his shot saved by Pedro Contreras, and Eidur Gudjohnsen was guilty of the biggest miss, blasting over with just the goalkeeper to beat when put clean through by a long ball from Joe Cole.

With Blues boss José Mourinho bringing Didier Drogba on for Gudjohnsen at the break, the Ivory Coast striker almost grabbed the equaliser in the 73rd minute, rounding both Juanito and Contreras before being cut off by Melli with the goal gaping.

And two minutes later, the signs were beginning to show that it was the Spanish side's night. With Chelsea on a counter-attack, Shaun Wright-Phillips burst down the right wing before cutting a ball back to Michael Essien, whose shot came back off both posts.

Essien had the ball in the net 12 minutes from time, only to see the goal disallowed for an infringement in the build-up, and Betis held on doggedly for a famous victory.

source: Eurosport.com