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Chelsea have defeated Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties to win the Champions League final, with Didier Drogba slotting the winning penalty.

From hero to villain, to man of the match.

Didier Drogba went through the full range of emotions on Saturday night when he delivered the first Champions League title to Chelsea, in perhaps his last match for the London club.

Drogba's dramatic, perfect header in the 88th minute against Bayern Munich levelled the final at 1-1 and sent it into extra time. It was his 34th Champions League goal and perhaps the most memorable.

He then gave away a needless extra-time penalty that was saved by Petr Cech from Arjen Robben, before driving home the final spot-kick in the shootout that clinched the title - 4-3 on penalties.

Drogba ran to the side and threw himself onto the ground, to be buried for minutes under a frenzied pile of his blue-shirted teammates.

He then took off his shirt and ran to the opposite side of Bayern's Allianz Arena, prancing in front of the jubilant supporters.

And then, he held Cech in a long embrace, thanking the Chelsea goalkeeper for saving his - and Chelsea's - night with his save of Robben's penalty.

"When we have this guy in goal you have to believe," said Drogba.

"I wanted to score the penalty for him, he is the best goalkeeper in the world and his saves today and before got us here.

"It was written, I think, a long time ago. I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we've had before, all the players I've played with before.

"They (Chelsea players) never give up until the end. This team is amazing."

Drogba was on his knee, praying in the middle circle as Bastian Schweinsteiger walked to the spot to take his team's last penalty.

Cech had already saved brilliantly from Ivica Olic to get Chelsea back into the shoot-out after Juan Mata had missed the English Premier League side's opening effort.

Schweinsteiger hit the post with his low shot and Drogba then stepped up for the decisive effort.

Facing the hostile Bayern crowd and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Drogba looked calm, took a short run-up and drove the ball inside the right post while sending Neuer the wrong way.

And Chelsea had the title it had been trying to win ever since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

"We didn't play fantastic but the main man Didier dug us out of trouble there," said Frank Lampard, who was Chelsea's captain for the suspended John Terry.

"He's a hero. Without him we're not here. He scores the goals in the big games."

A match Bayern had dominated went to penalties after a frenetic finish to normal time, with Thomas Mueller heading Bayern into an 83rd-minute lead only for Drogba to equalise for Chelsea in the 88th minute.

A dramatic start to extra-time then featured Bayern's former Chelsea winger Robben missing a penalty - saved by Cech - after Drogba had needlessly brought down Franck Ribery in the area.

Drogba's contract expires this summer, but Lampard said he would love him to stay.

"What he did tonight he's been doing all his career," Lampard said.

Drogba would not say whether he'll stay on at Chelsea after eight years with the club.

"We can't make decision on emotions in moments like this," he said.

Drogba was still on the field long after Saturday had turned into Sunday, kissing and hugging anyone who happened to come by, including photographers.