While Chelsea's European campaign ended in anger directed at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, Barcelona's players celebrated wildly after Andres Iniesta's 93rd- minute strike sent them into the final against Manchester United on May 27 in Rome.

Chelsea had taken a ninth-minute lead through Michael Essien and were seconds away from setting-up a repeat of last year's final against Manchester United when Iniesta scored to smash their dreams.

Pep Guardiola's side had played the last 25 minutes of the game with 10 men after Eric Abidal was controversially red-carded by Ovrebo for a professional foul on Nicolas Anelka.

The Norwegian official was slammed by Chelsea's players for rejecting four penalty appeals and, at the end of the game, striker Didier Drogba, who had been substituted in the second-half, appeared from the tunnel to confront the official.

The Ivorian was booked by Ovrebo but the striker then turned to a TV camera and yelled "It's a f****** disgrace" in front of the watching millions around the world.

The contrast in emotions at the final whistle could not have been greater and Messi, who supplied the pass for Iniesta's winner, declared: "We had a lot of faith until the last minute and we never lost our belief.

"The goal that they scored made the game harder for us. The happiness is just incredible and so is the joy of the fans.

"In the dressing room there was a party and everyone was delighted. Hopefully, we can see Barcelona's good football again. It will be a final between the two best teams in the world."

Goal hero Iniesta described his vital away goal as "perfect".

"I put my heart and soul into that shot and the ball went in the top corner in the only place that it could have done," he said.

"I do not know what went through my head after I scored because all I know is that we are now in the final in Rome.

"But we deserved to win, not only for this game, but for the way we have played all season and for the effort that everyone has put in.

"You cannot dream about moments like that. Today is one of the happiest days of my life. It really was an incredible feeling although the goal that we let in at the start and also Eric Abidal's red card were the low points.

"But one has to admire Chelsea as they have been in the semi-finals regularly for five years."

Striker Samuel Eto'o who survived a late penalty appeal after Michael Ballack's shot hit his arm in the dying seconds, added: "We have the chance to win three trophies this season.

"The desire to win, to be together and to do everything well in training and each game has served us well to reach the final.

"If we have reached the final it is because we have believed in ourselves. All we can do now is start dreaming. This is all marvellous and Pep is the best."

Former Manchester United player Gerard Pique was another player to escape being punished by Ovrebo when he appeared to handle the ball in a challenge with Anelka.

But he is now looking forward to playing against his former club in the final and says Iniesta's name will be forever linked with Barca history.

"There are no words to describe what we are going through," said Pique. "We had to work hard to create chances because after Chelsea scored the goal they defended with a lot of players. Andres's name, just like that of (Jose Mari) Bakero, will go down in history."

Eidur Gudjohnsen admitted he felt so desperately sorry for his former Chelsea team-mates that he couldn't celebrate getting to his first Champions League final.

The Iceland international spent six years at Stamford Bridge before leaving for Barca in 2006 and came on as a substitute at the end.

"It's difficult," said Gudjohnsen. "It's an awkward sensation and I didn't want to celebrate because a lot of the boys were my brothers for six years.

"But obviously I'm very happy for my team-mates. It's a great moment. Football is a harsh game and Chelsea have felt that. It's difficult to say if we were the best team.

"They say you make your own luck and the way we played with 10 men was impressive."

Barca president Joan Laporta celebrated by having a dig at Chelsea. "We had a moment of good luck but it was also justice," he said. "It's clear that football loves the beautiful game.

"We have demonstrated that football can be based on skill and spectacle, the two things that Barca represent."