AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Branislav Ivanovic scored on a looping header from Juan Matas corner kick in the third minute of stoppage time, and Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 Wednesday night to win the Europa League following its Champions League title last year. Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead in the 60th minute, but Oscar Cardozo tied the score when he converted a penalty kick eight minutes later after a hand ball by Cesar Azpilcueta. Chelsea earned the stoppage-time corner kick when Ramires knocked the ball off Jardel and over the end line. Suspended for last years Champions League final for yellow-card accumulation, Ivanonic rose between Jardel and Andre Almeida and from 8 yards headed the ball over goalkeeper Artur, who failed to move. The goal came at 2:13 of three minutes of stoppage time, and Ivanovic slid to the nearest corner flag, punched it and was mobbed by teammates, "Its been an amazing time for all of us involved," said Frank Lampard who wore the Chelsea captains armband in John Terrys absence. "Talk about ups and downs in the last two years! But this is a big up." Manager Rafa Benitez, who replaced Robero di Matteo in November, led the Blues to the only major title they had not won. Many Chelsea fans remain angry at Di Matteos departure, after he led the club to its first Champions League title. Others havent forgiven Benitez for allegedly disparaging comments he made toward Chelsea while Liverpool manager earlier in his career. Benitez already has said he will leave at the end of the season, and Jose Mourinho appears likely to replace him for a second stint as Chelsea manager. "That was a great performance in the second half, against a very good team," Benitez said. "Im really pleased for the players and everyone involved." Playing its 68th match of the season, Chelsea won despite missing Terry and midfielder Eden Hazard, both injured in Sundays 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. Terry was suspended for last years Champions League final, won on penalty kicks over Bayern Munich. "Its a great feeling. This team deserved this, because we have had a very difficult season and a lot of games," Ivanovic said. "In the end, today was a very hard game and Benfica played very well. ... We deserve that trophy." The win made Benitez only the second coach, after three-time champion Giovanni Trapattoni, to win the trophy with more than one club. Benitez first won the competition in 2004 with Valencia. Chelsea also joined Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich as only the clubs to win all three European titles. The Londoners won the now-defunct Cup Winners Cup in 1971 and 1998. However, it was a bitterly frustrating end to the night for Benfica coach Jorge Jesus. "For most of the 93 minutes, Benfica was better than Chelsea," he said. "Benfica showed the world that they should be a worthy winner." Before a crowd of 46,163 at Amsterdam Arena, Benfica lost its sixth straight European final since winning the Champions Clubs Cup in 1962, when promising 20-year-old striker Eusebio scored twice to beat Real Madrid 5-3 in Amsterdam. Eusebio was among the spectators for this final. Torres, who has nine European goals this season but just seven in the Premier League, scored when he collected the ball just inside Benficas half, used his strength to turn and wrestle past Ezequiel Garay and then beat captain Luisao before rounding Artur and slotting from a tight angle. Torres sprinted to the corner and struck a Usain Bolt-style pose in front of the Chelsea fans. It was the second straight crushing late loss for Benfica. On Saturday, Portos Kelvin scored in stoppage time for a 2-1 win that moved Porto past Benfica into the Portuguese league lead with one game left.
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Cheap Nike Air Max Womens Shoes . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury.
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Cheap Nike Air Max Mens Shoes .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. The Boston Bruins will begin the 2016-17 season on Thursday in Columbus without three key players in the lineup because of injuries.The Bruins announced Wednesday that forward Patrice Bergeron, along with defensemen Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller, will not travel with the team to face the Blue Jackets in the season opener on Thursday. Bergeron is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. McQuaid suffered an upper-body injury and is also day-to-day.Bergeron was injured at the end of practice Tuesday, but the Bruins would not elaborate on the nature of the injury or how it occurred.Coach Claude Julien held out hope Bergeron could join the Bruins later in their season-opening road trip, which continues against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and ends against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.Its not a major injury; its minor, Julien said. But Im confident its going to be really short term.Bergeron has reached the 30-goal mark three times in his career and has won the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL three times. Last season he led the Bruins with 68 points and was second on the team with 32 goals.Bergeron will be difficult to replace, but the Bruins are banking on their depth to overcome the loss.I think we spoke a little bit to our depth in camp and the tough decisions that we were forced with and our coaches and management were forced with..dddddddddddd. Theres so many capable players, forward David Backes said.And we get to test that a little bit earlier than we hoped. ... Well all have to pick up some of the load that he carries, which is a huge load for this team.Initially it appears Backes will carry a lot of that load. In practice Wednesday, Backes filled Bergerons spot at center between left wing Brad Marchand and right wing David Pastrnak.Marchand and Bergeron have been linemates almost exclusively since the 2010-11 season. So the new combination will take some getting used to. Bergeron has missed just 14 games in the past six seasons.Its disappointing having him not start [the season], but hopefully hell be back soon and it just means one of these other guys is going to have to step up and pull a little more weight, Marchand said.[Backes is] a great player and its nice to have the opportunity to play with him there, practice with him at least. Hopefully it goes well [Thursday].Miller suffered a fractured left hand and had surgery on Tuesday at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. His recovery time is expected to be six weeks.As a result, the Bruins have recalled forward Tim Schaller from Providence of the AHL.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '
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