One game away from a crisis. Avram Grant should have T-shirts printed, so frequently is he reminded of his tenuous status at Stamford Bridge and so consistently does he prove the right man for the job.

One game away from a crisis. Avram Grant should have T-shirts printed, so frequently is he reminded of his tenuous status at Stamford Bridge and so consistently does he prove the right man for the job. Champions League semi-finalists, Premier League contenders; this could yet prove to be the most successful season in the history of Chelsea FC.

It was neither comfortable, pretty nor especially gripping but in avenging last week's unexpected defeat at the hands of Zico's Fenerbahce, Chelsea once again find themselves vying with familiar opponents for a place in next month's final in Moscow. For the third time in four years, Chelsea face Liverpool.

Despite the scrappy nature of the win and the fact that Chelsea have never beaten Rafa Benitez's side in this competition, Grant was confident of progress. "Of course I believe," he said. "I am optimistic by nature. I said that we could do good things this year. Now we are close."

The build-up to the game had been dominated by Mateja Kezman's attempts to strike a psychological blow.

"Not the same club, not the same team," was the Serb's assessment of his former club in the post-Jose Mourinho era. Yet inside four minutes of this quarter-final second leg, the Fenerbahce striker had those words rammed down his throat by Michael Ballack's header.

Like Grant, Ballack's west London career has suffered from inevitable comparisons. In the eyes of most Chelsea fans, the German midfielder is an over-priced, over-rated version of Frank Lampard and therefore surplus to requirements. Yet with every advance Chelsea have made in Europe this season, Ballack has played a significant part.

While Hilario, a 26th minute replacement for the injured Carlo Cudicini, unsettled the Chelsea defenders with a succession of nervous clearances, Ballack bolstered the midfield and his match-winning header said everything about a player desperate for a chance to put the record straight.

Yet this was no stroll. For long periods, Chelsea allowed their opponents time, space and ample possession. It was clearly frustrating for the home side and none more so than Michael Essien, booked for needless dissent and now facing suspension. Yet the one consolation for the Ghanaian was his cut-back that allowed Lampard to put Chelsea out of their misery.

Chelsea Cudicini (Hilario 25), Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole (Malouda 85), Drogba, Kalou (Belletti 58). Subs: Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Anelka Booked Essien, Carvalho

Fenerbahce Demirel, Gonul, Lugano, Edu Dracena, Wederson (Bilgin 89), Maldonado (Kezman 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards, Deivid, Alex, Senturk (Boral 75).

Subs: Kulbilge, Cakmak, Turaci, Sahin Referee H Fandel (Ger)