LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Valencia earned a valuable 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday in a cagey first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
Valencia took the lead with a stunning first-half strike from David Silva, which flew past goalkeeper Peter Cech, but Didier Drogba nodded his 30th goal of the season in the 53rd minute to equalise.
Chelsea will be frustrated at the outcome after having had the lion's share of the possession, but Valencia deserve credit for keeping it tight at the back and playing some sharp incisive football going forward.
The away goals rule tips the tie in the Spaniards' favor as a goalless draw in next Tuesday's second leg will see them through to the semifinals, most likely against Liverpool after their 3-0 first leg win over PSV Eindhoven.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho went for an attacking line-up with Claude Makelele dropped in favor of John Obi Mikel in the holding midfield role, striker Salomon Kalou on the right flank and Drogba paired with Andriy Shevchenko up front.
Chelsea were quicker to settle and Drogba nearly opened the scoring in the 10th minute, the Ivorian spinning round to smack a shot onto the crossbar after Shevchenko had been flattened by a Roberto Ayala challenge.
Valencia, comfortable on the ball, created their first chance a minute later when David Villa, who was linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, sent a fizzing drive wide of Petr Cech's near post.
His strike partner Silva should have done better minutes later, when Joaquin's wayward shot found him completely unmarked in the middle of the penalty area and his scuffed effort flew wide of the target.
But Silva made amends on the half hour in spectacular style, collecting the ball 25 meters out on the left flank and unleashing a left-foot piledriver past the diving keeper.
Chelsea were quick to recover. Mikel, switching effortlessly between short and long passes, drove them forward down the center, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard bustled around the penalty area and Ashley Cole probed down the left.
Despite all the activity, Valencia's defence did a good job of denying Chelsea any clearcut chances. The impression lasted only a few minutes into the second half, though, when the Spaniards paid for a lapse of concentration.
Cole punted a long ball upfield and Drogba, cut adrift from his markers, was first to the bounce and nodded the ball over stranded keeper Santiago Canizares.
The Spanish bench were appealing minutes later when Lampard's tackle on Joaquin sent the ball through to Cech, which looked like an illegal pass back to the keeper but Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere waved play on.
Needing a goal, Mourinho made a double substitution after 75 minutes, taking off Mikel and Kalou for wingers Joe Cole, his first appearance since late November after injury, and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
But Chelsea could still not find a way through, despite a late assault in which Ricardo Carvalho's shot was charged down and Shevchenko's overhead kick deflected over.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Valencia took the lead with a stunning first-half strike from David Silva, which flew past goalkeeper Peter Cech, but Didier Drogba nodded his 30th goal of the season in the 53rd minute to equalise.
Chelsea will be frustrated at the outcome after having had the lion's share of the possession, but Valencia deserve credit for keeping it tight at the back and playing some sharp incisive football going forward.
The away goals rule tips the tie in the Spaniards' favor as a goalless draw in next Tuesday's second leg will see them through to the semifinals, most likely against Liverpool after their 3-0 first leg win over PSV Eindhoven.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho went for an attacking line-up with Claude Makelele dropped in favor of John Obi Mikel in the holding midfield role, striker Salomon Kalou on the right flank and Drogba paired with Andriy Shevchenko up front.
Chelsea were quicker to settle and Drogba nearly opened the scoring in the 10th minute, the Ivorian spinning round to smack a shot onto the crossbar after Shevchenko had been flattened by a Roberto Ayala challenge.
Valencia, comfortable on the ball, created their first chance a minute later when David Villa, who was linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, sent a fizzing drive wide of Petr Cech's near post.
His strike partner Silva should have done better minutes later, when Joaquin's wayward shot found him completely unmarked in the middle of the penalty area and his scuffed effort flew wide of the target.
But Silva made amends on the half hour in spectacular style, collecting the ball 25 meters out on the left flank and unleashing a left-foot piledriver past the diving keeper.
Chelsea were quick to recover. Mikel, switching effortlessly between short and long passes, drove them forward down the center, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard bustled around the penalty area and Ashley Cole probed down the left.
Despite all the activity, Valencia's defence did a good job of denying Chelsea any clearcut chances. The impression lasted only a few minutes into the second half, though, when the Spaniards paid for a lapse of concentration.
Cole punted a long ball upfield and Drogba, cut adrift from his markers, was first to the bounce and nodded the ball over stranded keeper Santiago Canizares.
The Spanish bench were appealing minutes later when Lampard's tackle on Joaquin sent the ball through to Cech, which looked like an illegal pass back to the keeper but Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere waved play on.
Needing a goal, Mourinho made a double substitution after 75 minutes, taking off Mikel and Kalou for wingers Joe Cole, his first appearance since late November after injury, and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
But Chelsea could still not find a way through, despite a late assault in which Ricardo Carvalho's shot was charged down and Shevchenko's overhead kick deflected over.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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