Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
Didier Drogba's two late goals meant Chelsea qualified for the knockout stages.
Tuesday, 03, Nov 2009 11:49
By Darren Plant.
A late strike from Sergio Aguero denied Chelsea a win against Atletico Madrid, but it did not prevent Chelsea from qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Aguero had given Madrid the lead midway through the second half, but a Didier Drogba double looked to have given Chelsea three points, before Aguero struck in stoppage time.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Bolton 4-0 last weekend. Argentinean striker Aguero was surprisingly left on the bench for Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish side started the better of the two sides, and went close through former Manchester United forward Diego Forlan, but his long range shot went just wide.
Chelsea came straight back against the hosts, when Michael Essien poked the ball to Drogba on the edge of the box but he pulled his shot inches wide of the far post.
Petr Cech pulled off a spectacular save on 20 minutes when Juan Antonio Reyes' curling shot looked to be heading for the top corner, but Cech tipped the ball wide.
As the half went on, Chelsea began to threaten the Madrid backline, and they created their best chance when Ashley Cole crossed for Salomon Kalou, but his header drifted just wide of Sergio Asenjo's post.
Just before the break, the visitors came even closer. A rapid breakaway saw Joe Cole pass the ball to Frank Lampard on the edge of the box. Lampard ignored the onrushing Juliano Belletti to unleash a 25 yard shot that went just wide.
Chelsea kept up the momentum at the start of the second half, and nearly took the lead when Drogba's 25 yard free kick was impressively tipped onto the post by Asenjo.
The match was beginning to become scrappy, but on 63 minutes, Reyes tested Cech again with a 20 yard free kick which was well held by the Czech Republic stopper.
Two minutes later, the Spanish side took the lead through substitute Aguero. Antonio Lopez's cross was headed half-clear by John Terry, but it went straight to Aguero who volley powerfully across Cech into the far corner.
Five minutes after the goal, Lampard lofted the ball over the defence for Drogba to run onto, but he could only shoot over after coming under pressure from Pablo.
With fifteen minutes to go, Asenjo failed to deal with Drogba's cross, and the ball fell invitingly for Deco, but he volleyed wide from 12 yards.
Chelsea equalised with nine minutes remaining. Florent Malouda produced a pinpoint ball from the left hand side for Drogba to rise above the defence to powerfully head into the bottom corner.
Both sides seemed content with a draw, but Chelsea took the lead with two minutes to ago thanks to an incisive breakaway goal finished off by Drogba. Ashley Cole played a precise through ball to the Ivory Coast striker, who cut inside the defender to shoot at Asenjo. The 'keeper kept the first shot out, but the ball fell to Drogba to side foot into the empty net.
However, Atletico spectacularly brought themselves back on level terms when Aguero curled a 25 yard free kick out of the reaches of Cech and inside the near post to give his side the share of the spoils but it was not enough to keep their Champions League hope after Porto scored a late goal against Apoel Nicosia.