Goals from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard helped Chelsea to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the fourth time in five years

Trailing 2-1 to Turkish side Fenerbahce from the first leg in Istanbul, Chelsea fought back to clinch a semi-final tie against their Premier League rivals Liverpool.

It will be the third time in four years the English pair have met in the last four of the competition but there is growing belief at Stamford Bridge that this could finally turn out to be Chelsea's year.

Avram Grant's side should have won this return leg by a much bigger margin but their victory was marred by an injury to goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

It plunged Chelsea's goalkeeping crisis to a new low as first-choice stopper Petr Cech is out for at least two weeks after undergoing facial surgery.

Chelsea's desire to eradicate their one-goal disadvantage was evident from the start and they were given a massive lift in the fourth minute when Ballack put them level on aggregate.

A free-kick from Lampard found the Fenerbahce defence dreaming and the Germany captain glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.

It was the perfect start for Grant's side but it almost got even better four minutes later when a superb run by Salomon Kalou on the left flank ended with Joe Cole hitting a post from the Ivorian's cross.

Ballack then tested Volkan Demirel from the rebound with a low drive which the Fenerbahce goalkeeper did well to save at his near post.

Chelsea were in the groove and every attack promised to punish the Turks further.

Drogba, whose physical presence was as intimidating as it was near unstoppable, skipped past Gokhan Gonul before trying his luck with a curling shot that dipped just too late to hit the target.

But in the 25th minute, Chelsea's goalkeeping crisis plunged to new depths when Cudicini signalled to the bench that he could not continue, and on came Hilario.

Fenerbahce seized the opportunity to try and unnerve the Portuguese four minutes later when Semih Senturk sent a 20-yard drive just wide of his right-hand upright.

But the Turks should have equalised a minute later when a free-kick from Alex found Lugano in space on the edge of the six-yard box.

Unfortunately he could not direct his header on target and a golden opportunity to restore their lead on aggregate went begging.

The double scare demonstrated Fenerbahce's ability to open up the Chelsea rearguard but moments later the English side squandered another chance to increase their lead on the night.

Joe Cole and Drogba combined superbly on the right flank and when the ball dropped invitingly for the Ivorian striker, he forced Volkan into another diving save.

Chelsea's appetite for more goals showed no signs of diminishing as the second period got under way and Drogba was unlucky with a shot on the turn that fortunately for Volkan was hit straight at him.

Drogba continued to cause the Turks problems and his sheer strength enabled him to carve out another chance in the 66th minute but again his low drive, from the edge of the penalty area, was just not accurate enough to beat Volkan.

In the 76th minute, Drogba for once turned provider and set up Joe Cole but the England midfielder, clear of the Turkish defence, was beaten to the ball by Volkan.

The Fenerbahce stopper then had to dive to his left to prevent a Drogba free-kick from finding the corner of the net as Chelsea continued to search for a second goal.

But with nine minutes left Chelsea had stand-in goalkeeper Hilario to thank for earning them a place in the semi-finals.

He made two stunning saves within seconds to deny Gokhan and then Colin Kazim-Richards.

But Chelsea wrapped-up the tie with three minutes of normal time remaining when Michael Essien's cross was turned home by Lampard from close range.

However, some of the gloss was taken off their victory when Essien was shown a yellow card - a misdemeanour that rules him out of the first leg against Liverpool in the semi-final.

Teams:

Chelsea Cudicini (Hilario 25), Essien, Carvalho, Terry,Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole (Malouda 85),Drogba, Kalou (Belletti 58).

Subs Not Used: Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Anelka.

Booked: Essien, Carvalho.

Goals: Ballack 4, Lampard 87.

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

Subs Not Used: Kulbilge, Cakmak, Turaci, Sahin.

Att: 38,369

Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany).