Cech injured as Chelsea held

Didier Drogba wasted three clear-cut chances to provide Chelsea with a victory that would have assured them a place in the next phase after Rosenborg's shock win over Valencia in Spain.

But the Londoners also rode their luck with Schalke twice hitting the woodwork in the second half of a lacklustre clash in the Veltins-Arena, in which Petr Cech did not appear after half-time after sustaining an injury.

Drogba wasted the first of his chances as early as the fifth minute. Mladen Krstajic had sliced his attempted clearance straight at Michael Essien and when the ball was played into the path of Drogba, a goal seemed certain. But the Ivorian striker was denied an opener by the agility of Manuel Neuer who dived low to his right to tip the ball around the post.

Chelsea had a lucky escape in the 27th minute when Juliano Belletti had to clear off the goalline after Cech had fumbled a corner straight to the feet of Heiko Westermann. Amid all the frenetic activity, Cech collected an injury which caused some concern for the bench until he was given permission to continue.

The English team were now hanging on and could find no respite from Schalke's persistent attacks. When they did get another chance to turn the game their way, it was Drogba who wasted it yet again.

He fluffed his second clear-cut chance in the 41st minute when a mazy run from Joe Cole put the Chelsea striker in the clear. But once again Neuer was equal to the task and the Schalke keeper pushed the ball to safety.

Chelsea lost goalkeeper Cech during the interval and he was replaced by Carlo Cudicini. The Czech had clearly not recovered from the knock on the shin he sustained in the opening half.

Chelsea were far from their best after the break and were lucky to reamin on level terms when, in the 69th minute, Rafinha's deflected shot came back off the crossbar, before Drogba made a hat-trick of wasted chances when he was again in the clear but sent his shot straight at Neuer.

In the 87th minute Rakitic put Lovenkrands away but his angled drive beat Cudicini and rebounded to safety off the left-hand upright as Chelsea rode their luck to claim a point.