Drogba keeps Chelsea's dream alive

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The Ivory Coast hitman gave Chelsea hope when he cancelled out David Silva's impressive first-half goal for Valencia with a 53rd minute header.

The Spaniards made Jose Mourinho's side work hard for their share of the spoils during a thrilling encounter at Stamford Bridge and the draw will give Valencia the edge in the quarter-final return leg next Tuesday.

The English champions opened brightly enough but left-back Ashley Cole rushed a cross which eluded both Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as it flashed across the six-yard box.

In the ninth minute, Kalou hit the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after Roberto Ayala had blocked Andriy Shevchenko's path to goal with a crude challenge.

Valencia missed a good chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Joaquin's shot found David Silva unmarked in the penalty area. Silva only had to touch the ball goalwards to beat Cech but mistimed his kick completely and the Blues escaped again.

Valencia's pressure paid off in the 30th minute when Silva sent a 25-yard angled drive flashing past Cech and into the far corner of the net. It was just reward for the Spanish side.

But Chelsea's higher tempo football paid off in the 53rd minute when Drogba equalised.

It was more of a case of route one football for the champions as Cole's long clearance bounced fortuitously inside the penalty area for Drogba to head over the advancing Santiago Canizares.