Juventus 2-2 Chelsea

Chelsea continue through to the quarterfinals at the expense of Juventus after a lacklustre, weak and unconvincing performance. Juventus were well on top of the game and performed by far the better football especially in the first half, but the dogged Londoners stuck it out. Ultimately, it's not really how you play; it is all about the end result. No one cares about glorious losers.

The Italians stepped on the accelerator and dominated from the start and went ahead when David Trezeguet passed a superb ball to Vincenzo Laquinta to score in the 18th minute. If the Old Lady set a high tempo for the night and Chelsea found themselves on the receiving end of a big stick, at least the Londoners had the element of luck on their side.

Chelsea man between the sticks, Petr Cech, was very fortunate to stay in the game after he handled the ball outside of the area in yet another Juventus attack. The keeper either saw it late or reacted badly. By the time he got down to stop it it was already over the line.

The visitors were attempting to play football sporadically, but their best efforts were limited to static situations. In one such case, Didier Drogba's free-kick had gone over the line, before Michael Essien scrapped the ball in the net from two feet.

After the break Juventus went forward again but there was a substantial improvement in the play of the visitors. Still, a 1-1 draw would suit the Londoners just right, so would a 2-1 defeat as a 2-2 aggregate score would send Chelsea ahead on the away goals rule.

When Chiellini was sent off for a second yellow card it appeared all over for the hosts, until Belletti ludicrously lifted his hands to a Del Piero free kick to award the Italians a penalty, which the veteran play maker obligingly scored.

At this score, the Italians were still chasing shadows, Chelsea were going to have the final twist in the script. Didier Drogba had a free kick which Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon clawed back from over the line, the referee apparently unaware of it.

But it was Drogba who, in the 82nd minute, ultimately sealed the tie at 2-2. Another successful night for English football in Europe but Chelsea will have to mark a substantial improvement if they are to proceed further in this competition.

After the match, Drogba told the club's website: "It’s a very good result and we are happy to be in the quarter finals. The draw is like a victory to us. We wanted to come here and qualify and that’s what we’ve done."

 Juventus: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Tiago, Marchisio, Nedved (Salihamidzic 13), Iaquinta (Giovinco 61), Del Piero, Trezeguet (Amauri 79).
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Goals: Laquinta 19, Del Piero 74 pen.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex (Carvalho 88), Ashley Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Essien (Belletti 66), Lampard, Drogba, Anelka.