Michael Essien is one match away from joining Abedi Pele and Sammy Kuffuor as the only Ghanaian players to have won the Uefa Champions League.

This was after his team Chelsea qualified for the final for the first time on Wednesday night after beating Liverpool 3-2 semi-final second leg to qualify 4-3 on aggregate.

Cheslea thought they had taken the lead in the first period when Essien smashed home from the edge of the area, but his strike was disallowed for offside.

After losing at this stage three times in the last four years, including two agonising defeats to Liverpool, Avram Grant's side can finally celebrate their arrival in the European game's showpiece.

Essien will be hoping that his side will win the match in Moscow to join his great compatriots Abedi Pele and Sammy Kuffuor as the only Ghanaians to have won the tournament.

Essien's side Chelsea could yet go into the Champions League's first all-English final as kings of English football as well.