Atletico Madrid draws with Chelsea but goes out of Champions League
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Two goals each from Kun Aguero and Didier Drogba meant a 2-2 draw between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea in their Champions League clash in the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Tuesday night.
Aguero opened the scoring with a volley after 65 minutes only for Drogba to score two goals in the last eight minutes of normal time.
However, just when it looked as if Chelsea was going to maintain its 100 percent record in the competition, Aguero curled home a brilliant free kick to seal the draw.
The result confirms Atletico's improvement under new coach Quique Sanchez Flores, but with group rivals Porto winning its game against APOEL, it also means the Spaniards are out of the competition.
Atletico went into the game with only one point from three Champions League matches in which the Spanish team not scored a single goal.
Quique Sanchez Flores made several changes to his side with Jose Antonio Reyes granted a rare start on the right and Sinama Pongolle partnering Diego Forlan in attack to replace Aguero, who was on the bench with a slight injury.
Meanwhile Didier Drogba returned for Chelsea after serving a three-match suspension, while Ashley Cole recovered from an ankle injury to play at left back.
Needing a win to have any chance of progressing in the competition, Atletico began by taking the game to their rivals, but Chelsea almost opened the scoring after Pablo Assuncao was caught in possession on the edge of his own penalty area.
Fortunately for Atletico, Drogba was unable to supply the finish.
Chelsea began to take control, but Reyes forced a fine save from Petr Cech after 20 minutes.
With Pablo looking solid in defence, Atletico began to look for goal, but although Forlan was again looking lively, most of his shots were from outside the area and failed to trouble the Chelsea keeper.
Knowing his side needed to win, Quique introduced Aguero into the game just seven minutes into the second half.
He was rewarded after 65 minutes when the Argentinean opened the scoring from 15 yards out with a powerful volley.
However, Chelsea drew level with eight minutes remaining as Drogba headed home a Malouda cross and the Ivory Coast international put his side ahead with a spectacular solo goal with just two minutes remaining.
It looked as if luck had again gone against Atletico, but Aguero scored that late free kick to leave them out of the Champions League, but with pride intact.
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