Chelsea reaches Champions League final
BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi walked off the Camp Nou pitch in tears, as one of the most dominant eras in European club soccer came to a crashing halt. He wasn’t the only one shaking his head in disbelief. Despite going a man and two goals down in the first half, Chelsea pulled off one of the unlikeliest comebacks in Champions League history Tuesday, earning a 2-2 draw against Barcelona. That sent the London club into the final 3-2 on aggregate and eliminated the defending champion. For the second time in two weeks, Chelsea withstood a never-ending onslaught from the Spanish powerhouse and displayed ruthless efficiency when rare opportunities finally presented themselves. “It’s a historical night for the club. I believe we deserve to be in the final,” said Chelsea’s interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, whose team will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the May 19 final at Munich’s Allianz Arena. “We had a difficult season, but we seem to always get something special out when we need to. That’s part of the DNA of these players.”
Mets put RHP Pelfrey, LF Bay on disabled list
NEW YORK — The aches and pains are mounting for the New York Mets again. Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey and left fielder Jason Bay were placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, the latest round of bad news for a team beset by injuries to key players the past few years. “It’s frustrating to lose a doubleheader one day and lose two players the next,” general manager Sandy Alderson said before the opener of a three-game series against Jose Reyes and the Miami Marlins. Pelfrey had an MRI exam that showed swelling in his right elbow. Alderson said a torn ligament has not been ruled out, however, and the team does not have a final diagnosis yet. The pitcher will get a second opinion. Alderson said even the most conservative course of treatment would probably sideline Pelfrey at least two to four weeks. Bay broke a rib on his left side trying for a diving catch during Monday’s doubleheader sweep by San Francisco. The Mets said an MRI exam showed a nondisplaced fracture, and there is no timetable for Bay’s return.
FIU forward Ferguson says he’s entering draft
MIAMI — Florida International forward Dominique Ferguson announced Tuesday that he was entering the NBA draft, saying he’s unhappy about the firing of Isiah Thomas and unable to get permission to talk to other schools. Ferguson told The Associated Press that his request to be released from his scholarship was denied by Pete Garcia, the school’s executive director of sports and entertainment. A subsequent appeal process that Ferguson said included a meeting with university President Mark Rosenberg also did not bring the release he sought. The school had no immediate response to a request for comment. “It’s been very confusing,” Ferguson said. “I’m getting through all this mess. It’s a big mess going on right now.” By wire sources