BARCELONA: A Chelsea injury- time equaliser against FC Barcelona on Tuesday kept it in control of its Champions League group while stoking a growing rivalry between the European football powerhouses.

``Yeah, it does feel a bit like a derby,'' Chelsea captain John Terry said about a match that produced 10 yellow cards.

Didier Drogba converted a headed pass by Terry, finishing under Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes in the third minute of injury time to give the Blues a 2-2 draw with its Group `A' rival.

This is the third straight year the two teams have met in the Champions League, and Tuesday's game produced 43 fouls and several shoving matches.

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard rushed out onto the field to complain to Italian referee Stefano Farina after the final whistle, which he felt was blown one minute earlier than it should have been.

``I went out to thank him for his participation,'' Rijkaard said sarcastically. Deco gave the host the lead with a goal in the third minute after intercepting a pass at midfield.

Ronaldinho could have doubled the advantage six minutes later but he sent a pass from Lionel Messi over the bar.

Chelsea forced Valdes into two acrobatic saves in the 33rd, with the Barcelona goalkeeper tipping Michael Essien's header over the bar, then diving to stop a drive from Arjen Robben. Chelsea opened the second half with two great scoring chances, both from Robben. The Dutchman's low-angled header in the 49th was cleared off the line by a diving Valdes, and an angled shot two minutes later went over the bar.

Equaliser

Lampard equalised shortly after. After misplaying a cross from Essien, the England midfielder recovered the ball at the goalline, then spun and sent in a sharply angled lob that flew over Valdes and inside the far post. In the 58th, Ronaldinho flicked a pass to Gudjohnsen who directed it into the top of the net to put the host ahead 2-1.

Chelsea stays in first place in Group `A' with 10 points, while Barcelona dropped into third with five.

The results (host teams listed first): First Round:

Group A: FC Barcelona 2 draws with Chelsea 2; Levski Sofia 0 lost to Werder Bremen 3.

Group B: Bayern Munich 0 draws with Sporting Lisbon 0; Spartak Moscow 0 lost to Inter Milan 1.

Group C: Liverpool 3 bt Bordeaux 0; PSV Eindhoven 2 bt Galatasaray 0.

Group D: AS Roma 1 draws with Olympiakos (Greece) 1; Shakhtar Donetsk 2 draws with Valencia 2. — AP

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