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Messi late goals rescue Barca, Chelsea held by Cluj
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-02 11:08

LONDON - Two late goals from Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a 2-1 comeback win at Shakhtar Donetsk while Didier Drogba was stretchered off during Chelsea's lacklustre 0-0 draw against CFR Clujin the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.


 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk, during their Group C Champions League soccer match in Donetsk, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. [Agencies]

Substitute Messi struck twice in the final three minutes, with one goal in stoppage time, as the 2006 winners posted an important away victory.

Chelsea, the runners-up last year, were unexpectedly held by Cluj in Romania as Drogba endured further Champions League misery.

The striker just returned from a knee injury and was making his first appearance in the European tournament since his red card in the final last season. But he left the stadium on crutches after suffering a suspected knee ligament damage.

The draw left Chelsea and Cluj level on four points in Group A, one ahead of third-placed AS Roma after the Italians fought back to win 3-1 at 10-man Girondins Bordeaux.

Liverpool's prospects of advancing from Group D look good after a 3-1 home win over PSV Eindhoven. Steve Gerrard celebrated his 100th goal for Liverpool while Robbie Keane got his first goal and Dirk Kuyt also scored for the five-time winner of Europe's elite club competition.


Chelsea's Didier Drogba is stretchered off the pitch during their Champions League soccer match against CFR Cluj in Cluj, October 1, 2008. [Agencies]

The English club remain joint Group leaders with two wins from two games together with Atletico Madrid, who also beat Olympique Marseille 2-1 to maintain a one hundred percent record.

Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan side were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen despite dominating at the San Siro.

Inter are level on points with Anorthosis Famagusta on top of Group B after the Cypriot side continued their impressive start with a 3-1 win over Greece's Panathinaikos.

Sporting moved up to second in Group C after Barcelona, beating Basle 2-0 at home thanks to second-half goals from Argentine playmaker Romagnoli and Derlei.

Barcelona needed two late strikes by Messi to spare their blushes.

Shakhtar took the lead before half-time when Brazilian winger Ilsinho fired into the roof of the net and the Ukrainians held out until the 87th minute when Messi tapped in after keeper Andriy Pyatov spilt Bojan's cross.

The Argentine then snatched victory in the fourth minute of injury time with a delicate chip.