Soccer: Barca fight back to claim 2-1 win over Chelsea

BARCELONA - Second-half strikes by Maxi Lopez and Samuel Eto'o allowed Barcelona to fight their way back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League knockout soccer tie at the Nou Camp here today.

Chelsea were on the ropes for most of the first half, but took the lead against the run of play when Barca fullback Juliano Belletti turned into his own net after Damien Duff had raced down the right wing and cut a cross into the box.

The muscular Chelsea defence held firm as Barca flooded forward in search of an equaliser, but the Londoners suffered a heavy blow when striker Didier Drogba was sent off after he picked up a second booking for showing his studs at keeper Victor Valdes.

The Catalans took advantage 11 minutes later when substitute Lopez held off a defender and fired an angled shot past keeper Petr Cech and into the far corner.

The Catalans smelled victory as Chelsea were reduced to a desperate rearguard action and newly-crowned African Player of the Year Eto'o burst between two defenders to turn in a cross-shot by Lopez to complete the victory for the Spanish league leaders.

- REUTERS