Europa League Final 2013: Ivanovic Header Gives Benitez Perfect Chelsea Send-off

Branislav Ivanovic's 93rd minute header saw Chelsea secure the Europa League in stunning fashion with victory over Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena.

Despite being second best for large portions of the match, a Fernando Torres goal saw the Blues take the initiative in the second half, before a penalty from Oscar Cardozo levelled the game.

But with extra time looming, Ivanovic, who was suspended for last year's Champions League final, rose above the Benfica defence to nod in a dramatic late winner in the Dutch capital.

While becoming just the fourth side to win the Europa League, European Cup and Cup Winners' Cup in history, the silverware signifies the perfect end to Rafa Benitez's interim spell in charge at Stamford Bridge ahead of the imminent arrival of former boss Jose Mourinho.

Jorge Jesus' side started the brighter of the two teams with Nicolas Gaitan, Eduardo Salvio and Rodrigo combining cleverly to stretch Chelsea at the back.

But where the Portuguese side excelled in quick, intricate passing that often left the London side bewildered, poor finishing kept the game goalless. A clever free kick that caught Chelsea out 15 minutes into the game provided the game's first clear opening, but a slight deflection in the box saw Rodrigo fail to connect with his effort.

While Chelsea's defenders struggled to contain Benfica's vibrant attack, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres found themselves on the periphery of the game, and seldom were they picked out by a Chelsea midfield that rarely maintained possession.

The Blues only real chance of the first half came through the man whose future at the club had been a subplot to the entire build of the occasion. Frank Lampard picked up the ball from outside the area and with little warning fired a stinging effort towards the Benfica goal, that only an acrobatic save from the eccentric Artur in the Benfica net prevented Benitez's side taking a lead before half time.

With the influential Eden Hazard missing through injury, Chelsea's bench was looking worryingly light, with Victor Moses the only option on the bench that could offer what Benitez's side desperately needed, an injection of urgency.

And a clumsy restart from the Premier League side almost cost them.

The ever dangerous Cardozo got on the end of a beautiful cross from Argentine international Gaitan who nodded the ball past Petr Cech, only for the linesman to raise his offside flag. The Paraguayan was off by the width of a shoulder, a telling reminder to Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic who had been troubled by the centre forward all evening.

The scare seemed to give the Blues a much needed shot in the arm as they nearly got behind the Benfica defence for the first time, as Mata slipped the ball through to a rampaging Ramires, only for Ezequiel Garay to step up just in time to rule the Brazilian offside.

For all Benfica's tricky build up play on show up to this point, Chelsea stole the lead with one of the most direct goals you will see all season. A long throw from Petr Cech bypassed the Benfica midfield and panicked defence to find Torres, who took the ball in his stride, using great strength to hold off centre half Luisao. A deft shimmy from the Spaniard got the better of the onrushing Artur allowing the Chelsea striker to stroke home the game's opener.

The goal boosted Chelsea, providing them with that extra burst of pace across the pitch while the panache that defined Benfica's intricacy in the first half began to wane.

Seven minutes later however, Benfica would peg the Blues back. Lima, who had just been introduced off the Portuguese bench played a one to with Cardozo on the outside of the area, which was intercepted by the arm of Cesar Azpilicueta, resulting in the ref pointing to the spot. Cech, last year's hero in Munich could do nothing to stop Cardozo's powerful effort which was thumped down the middle to level things.

What had been a relatively one sided showing in the first half was now an absorbing contest between two sides. Cardozo once again threatened to put the Portuguese club ahead with a stunning volley with ten minutes left. Not to be outdone, Lampard bettered his effort from the first half with an outstanding effort from 25 yards out, but saw his beautiful strike crack the bar.

Extra time appeared to be an inevitability, but up rose Chelsea's towering Serbian, who got on the end of a in swinging corner from Ramires to head home the game's dramatic winner. A lapse in concentration almost immediately after the goal almost allowed Cardozo in to change the face of the game once again, but the scrambled efforts of Cahill and Cech ensured Chelsea went on to become the first team to win the Champions League and Europa League in consecutive years.